Milan were set up as we predicted in our preview. A 4-5-1 Christmas Tree formation with Inzaghi the one up top. Liverpool also fielded a traditional 4-5-1 with Macherano and Alonso in front of the back four. Gerrard played behind Kuyt as the third man in central midfield. Pennant and Zenden were preferred as the wingers. The formation seemed to work as Liverpool made a solid start, with Pennant getting the ball in large amounts of space. Liverpool were using more of their right flank. Milan threatened with Kaka and Inzaghi having a few chances. Liverpool were defending from the front through Kuyt and Gerrad who pressed Milan's defenders. Liverpool midfielders were palying a high pressing game which did not allow Milan to settle on the ball and play their game.
Despite that, The Brazilian, Kaka, was coming into the game, bringing the Milan fans to their feet with one supreme drag-back and turn, yet neither side could put their stamp on a surprisingly open contest. Xabi Alonso and John Arne Riise both missed from distance while, for Milan, Massimo Oddo and Marek Jankulovski were dangerous pushing forward down the flanks. It was Pennant, though, who looked most likely to furnish a breakthrough. Despite getting much of the ball, his use of it wasn't of the desired quality. Liverpool controlled the first half which saw Milan uncharacteristically giving the ball away on many occasions. Milan wasn't looking like the team that defeated ManYoo in the semifinal. Liverpool had the better chances and they will rue those missed chances as Milan took the lead against the run of play at the stroke of half time.
Alonso conceded a free kick at the top of the 18 yard box after bringing down Kaka. Sadly for Xabi Alonso, his habit of giving away fouls has been an accident waiting to happen all season, and his infringement on Kaka was not only needless, it was heavily punished. Pirlo stepped up and saw his curler deflected in of Pippo Inzaghi. Reina was already committed to the initial flight of the ball. A huge slice of luck for Milan as they took a 1-0 lead into halftime.
The second half began with Liverpool again controlling the game. The first 15 mins saw Liverpool putting pressure on Milan's well marshalled defence. Benitez made a change after 58 minutes, sending on Harry Kewell for Bolo Zenden. The skipper, Gerrard had a chance in the 62 minute when he found himself through one on one with Dida but from a tight angle, his attempt was a weak one and easily parried by the Brazilian custodian. Liverpool then struggled to maintain their superiority and also found it difficult to break Milan down. Ambrosini and Gattuso were much more withdrawn in the 2nd half. Only Inzaghi, Seedorf and Kaka were moving forwards. Milan looked to close shop.
Crouch entered the game for Mascherano who had done a great job in stifling Kaka. This decision we felt resulted in Milan's 2nd goal. Kaka received the ball in acres of space with no midfielders anywhere around him. Alonso was pushed up. Kewell didn't seem interesting in dropping back throughout the half. Kaka got the ball in the area where Mascherano was operating. The need to push up for the equalizer saw gaps appearing in Liverpool's midfield. Kaka given time and space slotted in the ball behind Liverpool's defence for Pippo. The defence looked flat for Liverpool. They had 4 defenders up against two strikers. Very poor defending. Pippo who plays the game off the shoulders of central defenders, defeated the offside trap and found himself alone with Reina. Pippo went wide and slides the ball low past the Spanish goalkeeper with his right foot. His second of the game puts Milan on the brink of victory with just eight minutes of the 90 remaining.
Milan then proceeded to protect their lead by taking off seedorf for veteran defender favalli. Crouch had a long range shot tipped over by Dida. From another corner, Daniel Agger's flick-on found Dirk Kuyt who gives the English side hope by nodding the ball in from close range. But it was only hope. Milan went to the corner at every opportunity to run the clock down. Liverpool didn't threatened Milan's goal in the remaining moments of the game. The final whistle blew to start Milan's celebrations. 2-1 to AC Milan. The Old Boys has done it again.
Liverpool had only themselves to blame for not taking advantage of a lacklustre Milan side. They had the chances but did not take them. Liverpool didn't have the quality in the final third to get the goals. Expect rafa to rectify that with new signings in the summer. Expect two strikers to come in for Fowler and Bellamy(did not play, most probably on his way out). Substitutions were done too late we feel and the subs didn't contribute anything. Kewell was remembered for two dives upon his arrival. Crouch came on too late to have any effect.(he never scores coming off the bench). Arbeloa coming on was baffling.
Milan on the other hand, displayed all the hallmarks of champions. They had the luck and also the quality needed when it matters. They only had 3 shots on goal but scored from two of them. And just like Chelski of the past two seasons, they won despite not playing very well. So when at the end of the day, it is fair to say that Milan had that extra quality on the day.
The great respect between the two sides were highlighted when the Rossoneri lined up the path and applauded when the Liverpool players went up to get their their runners up medals. A true show of class by the champions. 18YB cannot recall any other finals which saw such an act of respect. Well done, Milan!
A fairy tale indeed for Milan who had to go through qualifying rounds to enter the Champions League. This was the result of the Italian corruption scandal which saw them docked points. They also had patchy spells during their league campaign. But when it matters, the experienced heads in the line up managed to push through and how befitting a Milan veteran, Pippo Inzaghi, was to be the man of the final. This final has been labelled by Italian press as the 'Inzaghi' final. And 18Yb got it right this time. 2-1 to Ac Milan.
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