Coppa Italia Result : Roma 1 - 4 AC Milan
Latest News:
Milan seem to have the Coppa Italia in the bag after Serginho's brace earned a crushing 4-1 first leg victory at Roma's Stadio Olimpico.
The Rossoneri are the only team fighting on three fronts and rested several top stars ahead of the Champions?ELeague Final.
The Giallorossi are already assured of the UEFA Cup qualifying spot given to the winners of this trophy, as Milan will enter the Champions?ELeague next season.
Francesco Totti and Marcos Cafu returned from long injury lay-offs to support the on-form Antonio Cassano upfront, but Vincenzo Montella and Francisco Lima were out of action.
Milan had the first real chance on nine minutes when Tomasson chested down the ball, flipped it over Jonathan Zebina and brought a difficult save out of Ivan Pelizzoli.
Christian Abbiati was also tested with a flying fingertip save on Cassano’s splendid curling effort ?Ea finish usually associated with Juve’s Alessandro Del Piero.
Rivaldo showed more enthusiasm than Milan fans have become accustomed to and charged past several defenders, but Zebina out-sprinted him as he reached the box.
Francesco Totti eventually broke the deadlock in spectacular fashion. On the half-hour mark the Roma captain rifled a simply unstoppable free kick into the roof of the net from almost thirty metres. The sheer power on the finish did not stop it curling around the defensive wall.
It was a tense game with a high tempo and there were several yellow cards during the first half. Christian Brocchi, Massimo Ambrosini and Cafu will be suspended for the second leg. Fabio Capello’s men were more energetic and took control after Totti’s goal.
Rivaldo got into a good scoring position on the edge of the box, but somehow fired well wide of the target.
The visitors fought back after the break, but Brocchi’s effort was deflected out for a corner kick.
Soon after Pelizzoli made a reaction save on Tomasson’s close-range effort, but there were also penalty appeals for a push on Serginho.
Milan poured forward and left Roma space to counter-attack, but Abbiati performed a difficult save on Cafu’s angled drive.
The pressure paid off on 62 minutes when Christian Panucci slapped the ball off Tomasson’s chest and the referee pointed to the spot.
Milan have missed five penalties in Serie A this season, but Serginho converted successfully to draw level.
The Giallorossi charged back into the game and had a double chance moments later. Emerson’s fierce volley was fingertipped onto the post before Abbiati plucked Panucci’s header off the line.
The game turned around completely on 70 minutes with a curious piece of luck for the Rossoneri. Massimo Ambrosini’s totally free header took a decisive deflection off Zebina to leave his goalkeeper helpless.
Tomasson was forced off with a shoulder injury, so Andriy Shevchenko made a late appearance.
Roma were clearly in shock and soon after Serginho sprung the offside trap to lift the ball over Pelizzoli.
It was an action-packed second half and Abbiati was again crucial on Totti’s bullet free kick, but was very shaky on another effort from the captain. Daniele De Rossi’s free header shaved the near post as Roma kept pushing.
In the final minute substitute Andriy Shevchenko sealed the humiliating scoreline with a wonderful goal. The Ukrainian took the ball past Panucci with his chest before a delicate lob left the ‘keeper stranded.
The second leg will be played at the San Siro on May 31.
Roma 1-4 Milan
Scorers: Totti 28 (R), Serginho pen 62, 73 (M), Zebina og 70 (M), Shevchenko 89 (M)
Roma: Pelizzoli; Panucci, Samuel, Zebina; Cafu (Guigou 84), Tommasi, Emerson (De Rossi 78), Dacourt, Candela; Totti, Cassano (Delvecchio 74)
Milan: Abbiati; Simic (Kaladze 69), Roque Junior, Laursen, Helveg; Brocchi, Redondo, Ambrosini; Serginho (Dalla Bona 84), Rivaldo; Tomasson (Shevchenko 71)
Ref: Paparesta