Lazio 0:0 AC Milan - match report
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Source: Football Italia

Milan continue to struggle with a goalless draw away to Lazio, even if Andriy Shevchenko rattled the crossbar.

This was a crunch match for Coach Carlo Ancelotti, who was under increasing pressure to deliver after losing sight of the Scudetto and Coppa Italia in the space of one week. It was going to be a tough task against a Lazio side that was unbeaten in its last seven games and enjoying a fine record on home turf. However, the Rossoneri do have a good history at the Stadio Olimpico, not losing here in Serie A since 1998.

Angelo Peruzzi returned from injury, while Christian Manfredini, Valon Behrami, Massimo Ambrosini, Paolo Maldini, Manuel Rui Costa and the suspended Sebastiano Siviglia were out of action.

Alberto Gilardino spun round to fire over the bar, then Andriy Shevchenko's angled drive was charged down by Emilson Sanchez Cribari.

Lazio had penalty appeals for Gilardino's push on Stefano Mauri as a free kick was taken quickly and the Milan defence was surprised.

Jaap Stam had a good chance against his former teammates, but his looping header was captured under the bar by Angelo Peruzzi.

At the other end, Massimo Oddo drilled on to the side-netting, while Shevchenko and Kaka had shots charged down.

Kaka created a great opportunity when he burst through the defence on Gilardino's pass following a defensive error, but Stendardo managed to recover the situation.

Shevchenko was furious when his promising move was halted by the referee for a handling offence, but replays suggest it was his torso.

Milan were improving towards the end of the first half and Kaka's timid effort was plucked out of the air by Peruzzi, then he smothered a powerful strike from Clarence Seedorf.

Manuel Belleri replaced January signing Massimo Bonanni at half-time and Dida was called into the first save of the second half on Gaby Mudingayi's shot from the edge of the box.

Paolo Di Canio was at full stretch at the back post, but couldn't get on the end of Tommaso Rocchi's cross.

Gilardino had one of the best chances of the game so far when he spun round Stendardo, but drilled an angled drive wide of the far post.

Peruzzi was at full stretch to fingertip a Kaka effort round the upright, but Milan went closer than ever before on 69 minutes.

Shevchenko rose between two defenders for a powerful header that Peruzzi tipped on to the upright. The ball cannoned back down off the ground, but did not cross the line.

The Rossoneri were now piling on the pressure and Peruzzi performed another great save to push Shevchenko's rising strike out of the top corner from a tight angle.

Gilardino just failed to get on the end of Serginho's cross from six yards, as a touch would've been enough to take it past the goalkeeper.

Ancelotti needed a more attacking push in the final 15 minutes and threw on ex-Roma star Marcos Cafu for Stam.

Dida dropped the ball, but only after he was fouled by Mauri, but Lazio almost snatched the winner when the former Udinese man fired wide after taking advantage of a Kakha Kaladze error.

Lazio: Peruzzi; Oddo, Stendardo, Cribari, Zauri; Bonanni (Belleri 46), Mudingayi, Liverani, Mauri; Di Canio (Pandev 63), Rocchi

Milan: Dida; Stam (Cafu 79), Nesta, Kaladze, Serginho; Gattuso, Pirlo, Seedorf (Jankulovski 84); Kakà; Shevchenko, Gilardino

Ref: Saccani

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