Trofeo Berlusconi: AC Milan 2:1 Juventus - match report
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Scorers: Vieira 20 (J), Kaka 53 (M), Serginho 77 (M)

Source: Football Italia

It was a bad evening all round for Juve, who lost the Trofeo Berlusconi to Milan and saw Gigi Buffon and Pavel Nedved stretchered off.

Christian Vieri was given his San Siro debut in a Milan jersey against his former club and partnered Andriy Shevchenko, while a call-up to the Italy side for next week’s friendly against the Republic of Ireland was not enough to earn Alessandro Del Piero a start for his club.

There were tactical changes, as Carlo Ancelotti opened with Marek Jankulovski as left-back in a four-man defence and Juve experimented with Pavel Nedved out wide on the right.

There is a curious theory surrounding this competition, as in the past it was believed that the losers of this trophy would go on to win the Scudetto, but Juve broke that ‘curse’ last year with a victory.

The Bianconeri had the first chance after seven minutes when Patrick Vieira threaded through for Zlatan Ibrahimovic and his fierce shot was strangely kept out by Dida’s nose. Soon after, Vieri gathered a Marcos Cafu pass and skipped round Lilian Thuram before Fabio Cannavaro dived in for a last-ditch intervention to rescue Gigi Buffon.

There was bad news for Juve after 18 minutes when Nedved fell awkwardly under a Paolo Maldini challenge and was replaced by Adrian Mutu. Initial reports suggest the Ballon d’Or winner has sprained his ankle.

Moments later, the Turin giants opened the scoring with a well-worked team move finalised by Vieira. It was an all-French affair, as Jonathan Zebina exchanged passes with David Trezeguet and allowed the former Arsenal midfielder to spring the offside trap in the centre.

Ibrahimovic nearly made it 2-0 on the half-hour mark as his solo effort thumped the base of the upright and his glancing header was over. After being under the cosh for most of the first half, Kaka went close three times as he broke through the centre and rolled his finish inches wide, then brought a fingertip save out of Buffon and saw a shot charged down.

The teams were allowed six substitutions each and Milan made several changes at half-time, introducing Alberto Gilardino for Vieri. Within three minutes the former Parma striker had hit the back of the net, but it was correctly disallowed for an offside position.

The Rossoneri were much livelier in the second half and drew level when Shevchenko pulled back from the by-line for Kaka to sweep in first time. The young Brazilian nearly bagged a second soon after and Buffon bravely rushed off his line to close him down with one arm. It was perhaps a little too brave, as the goalkeeper was stretchered off in agony and is out of Wednesday’s international friendly in Dublin after an initial prognosis of a strained muscle in his shoulder with possible dislocation.

Del Piero was given his chance to shine in the final half-hour and Manuel Rui Costa replaced the impressive Kaka. The Portuguese playmaker immediately sent Gilardino running and his finish shaved the far post.

Milan nearly scored a spectacular goal as Rui Costa and Pirlo nutmegged and flicked their way through until the former Fiorentina man rattled the woodwork. Rui Costa has been on stunning form this summer and his searching pass found Serginho for an angled drive to put the Trofeo Berlusconi in Rossoneri hands.

Milan 2-1 Juventus

Scorers: Vieira 20 (J), Kaka 53 (M), Serginho 77 (M)

Milan: Dida; Cafu, Stam, Maldini (Nesta 46), Jankulovski (Kaladze 46); Gattuso (Seedorf 46), Pirlo, Ambrosini; Kaka (Rui Costa 62); Vieri (Gilardino 46), Shevchenko (Serginho 69)

Juventus: Buffon (Chimenti 58); Zebina (Blasi 53), Thuram (Kovac 58), Cannavaro, Zambrotta; Pessotto, Emerson (Giannichedda 69), Vieira, Nedved (Mutu 18); Trezeguet (Zalayeta 69), Ibrahimovic (Del Piero 58)

Ref: Dondarini

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