UEFA Champions League match report: A.C Milan 2-0 Viktoria Plzen
A.C Milan beat Viktoria Plzen 2-0 to register their first win of the 2011/12 UEFA Champions League at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on Wednesday, September 28, 2011.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Antonio-Cassano-c6302 doubled the lead for the hosts.
Massimiliano Allegri made three changes to his starting line-up from the 2-2 draw against Barcelona a fortnight ago. Ibrahimovic, Urby Emanuelson and http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Gianluca-Zambrotta-c14831
respectively.
On the other hand, Pavel Vrba named the same team from the opening game of the group stages. Marek Bakos played as a lone striker in a 4-5-1 setup.
The visitors got the game off to a flying start and came extremely close to scoring in the third minute of the game. Vaclav Pilar made a lovely run from the left flank and went easily past Antonini before laying a wonderful cross
for Bakos, whose header was wonderful tipped away by http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Christian-Abbiati-c9046. It could have been a dream start for the Czech side.
Couple of minutes later, Ibrahimovic made a blistering run from the right flank before playing a pass to Cassano, whose powerful shot was wonderfully saved by visiting goalkeeper, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Marek-Cech-c23842.
The game dried up in the middle periods but the Czech outfit showed no fears playing at the San Siro. The visitors looked resolute in defence and brave going forward.
Just after the half-hour mark, Ibrahimovic could have opened the scoring for the Rossoneri but his powerful strike from Ignazio Abate’s delivery was met by a lovely reflex save from Cech. The Swede looked extremely dangerous in
the attack and showed exactly what Milan were missing in their recent games.
Plzen had another wonderful opportunity to take the lead moments before the half time whistle; Bakos teed up Pavel Horvath in a lovely position but he blasted his shot off-target.
Two visiting players were booked for fouls just before the half-time whistle as both teams went into the break at 0-0.
The second half witnessed a sedate start as both teams took time to get into their strides. Ibrahimovic’s creativity in the attack handed Milan a penalty kick in the 52nd minute. The Swedish international played a lovely
flick towards goal but the visiting defender got his hand on the way and the referee had no other option but point to the spot.
Ibra stepped up to take the penalty kick and calmly slotted his shot into the back of the net sending Cech the wrong way to make it 1-0 for the hosts.
The hosts grew in confidence after the opening goal and continued to create more goal-scoring opportunities. The visitors did not surrender and impressed with their lovely attacking game.
Milan paid the visitors for not taking their chances, as Cassano doubled his team’s advantage in the 66th minute. Ibrahimovic was once again centre of the creative department for the hosts, as the Swede brilliantly controlled
an up-field long ball before turning and laying it off for the former Sampdoria striker to slot his shot past Cech to make it 2-0.
Plzen did not lose hope despite going two goals down and continued to create dangerous opportunities. The visitors were left to rue for their missed chances as they slumped to a defeat in a great comeback night for Ibrahimovic.
Milan: Abbiati; Abate (De Sciglio 87), Nesta, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Thiago-Silva-c34903, Antonini (Taiwo 78); Nocerino, Van Bommel, Seedorf (Aquilani 70); Emanuelson; Cassano, Ibrahimovic
Viktoria Plzen: Cech; Rajtoral, Cisovsky, Bystron, Limbersky; Pilar (Fillo 75), Jiracek, Horvath, Kolar (Darida 91), Petrzela; Bakos (Duris 67)
Milan’s next Champions League assignment will be against BATE Borisov on October 19th, 2011. On the other hand, Viktoria Plzen face a mammoth task against European Champions, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Barcelona-c38604, the same day.
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