Serie A Week 9 - 30/10/04 (18.00)
Sampdoria 0 - 1 Milan
Shevchenko 76 (M)
Stadio Marassi
Substitute Andriy Shevchenko keeps Milan in the title race with a victory away to Sampdoria just hours after the birth of his son.
Shevchenko was only on the bench after driving back from Milan in the morning to be with his wife Kristen at the birth of their first son, Jordan. With Pippo Inzaghi and Jaap Stam out injured and Andrea Pirlo rested, Hernan Crespo forged a new partnership with Jon Dahl Tomasson.
Sampdoria had their confidence boosted by a 2-0 victory away at Chievo midweek and were starting to find their form, although their record against the big clubs over the last year and a half has not been impressive.
Kaka was lively from the start, but his finishing left something to be desired, then Crespo's cross-cum-shot skimmed the far post with Francesco Antonioli beaten.
Milan were dominating early on, but Sampdoria had a great chance when Massimo Ambrosini flung himself at Cristiano Doni's shot from eight yards, then Fabio Bazzani volleyed well over.
The first real save of the game arrived after half an hour, as Kaka threaded through for Tomasson and the Dane's fierce strike was well parried by Antonioli.
Kaka then chested down Billy Costacurta's pass and volleyed only to see it charged down by teammate Crespo. Paolo Maldini then charged forward on a counter-attack that was only scuppered by Cristian Zenoni's foul.
Former Milan goalkeeper Antonioli performed another fine reaction save on Kaka just before the break, but Crespo set him up with a stunning 'rabona' - crossing his legs and striking the ball with the back foot.
The visitors continued to pule on the pressure in the second half with Crespo firing over and just failing to get on the end of Gennaro Gattuso's cross.
But once again Samp were dangerous and Cristiano Doni slid on to Zenoni's low cross only to fire it over the bar.
Carlo Ancelotti made two changes on the hour mark, introducing Serginho and Shevchenko for Clarence Seedorf and Tomasson.
Perhaps the Blucerchiati's best chance of the game so far came moments later, as Francesco Flachi spun round his defender and brought a fantastic save out of Dida.
Milan struck on the counter-attack with Serginho's pace, but his cutback was deflected just past both Crespo and Shevchenko.
The deadlock was eventually broken in chaotic fashion. Serginho combined with Crespo and sprinted into the box, but Antonioli's point blank save only went as far as Shevchenko.
It rounded off a wonderful day for the Ukrainian, who barely slept and only arrived at the Stadium four hours before kick-off after attending the birth of his son, so he performed the classic 'rocking cradle' celebration with his teammates.
Sheva then set up Crespo, but the Argentine's shot was too weak to trouble the goalkeeper, while Flachi took advantage of Costacurta's error and nearly caught Dida unawares.
Milan-owned striker Vitali Kutuzov came on for the closing stages, but Shevchenko challenged him for the ball and his fine lob was slapped out of the top corner by Antonioli.
He was determined to get another goal to dedicate to his son and his angled drive was well blocked at the near post. But Bazzani did his level best to spoil the day with a splendid turn and volley that whistled past the upright, then Sergio Volpi's solo effort was closed down by Maldini.
Sampdoria: Antonioli; Zenoni, Pavan, Falcone, Sacchetti; Diana (Rossini 87), Volpi, Palombo, Doni (Kutuzov 82); Flachi, Bazzani
Milan: Dida; Costacurta, Nesta, Maldini, Pancaro; Gattuso (Pirlo 72), Seedorf (Serginho 65), Ambrosini; Kakà; Tomasson (Shevchenko 65), Crespo
Ref: Farina
http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/sa0405/sam-mil.html