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Milan ease past Plzen
AC Milan have climbed top of the group H when the Rossoneri defeated Czech champions Viktoria Plzen 2-0 last night on San Siro where the hosts scored both goals in the second part through Ibrahimovic and Cassano.
The first chance belonged to the Czechs who neared the opener in the third minute when Bakos headed a perfect cross from Pilar only to be denied by Abbiati. AC Milan broke back two minutes later through Cassano whose dangerous shot was denied by Cech who made a great save in what could have been an early disaster for the visitors.
Ibrahimovic got his first opportunity in the tenth minute following a great action in the middle the finish of which was struck off the target by the Swede. Cassano then tried his luck with a shot from distance to which the same Cech wad equal. Van Bommel also arrived in the visitors’ box following a corner on the right which the Ducth hit it wide.
Rajtoral also tried to find the target with a range strike which earned the away side a corner. Cassano missed another shot in the 21st minute, while Cisovsky received a yellow card three minutes later for a foul. Jiracek was picked in good position after the Czechs managed a counter attack the finish of which was missed by the striker who should at least made Abbiati stretch for it.
Cech made a providential save in the 31st minute when the Rossoneri developed a dangerous action on the left which Ibra finished goawards but straight at the keeper. The 35th minute saw the same Italians miss three back to back chances, the first goal becoming a matter of time. Ibra mocked yet another chance in the 37th minute, his shot being parried by the great shaped Cech at the death.
Plzen got their biggest chance with five minutes left in the first half when Horvath failed to convert it home from good position in what should have been a shocking break for the visiting side. Petrzela conceded his first yellow card in the 44th minute for a handball as Milan were desperately chasing a late opener through Seedorf whose dangerous cross was connected by nobody.
Horvath was also shown a yellow card in the 45th minute for a dangerous intervention on Cassano. The half time went scoreless as Milan were still dominating the game. Seven minutes into the second part, Ibra suggested an early opener after the Swede mocked a golden chance for the Italians. Just one minute later the same former Barca player opened the score with an easy finish past the keeper, following a great action in the middle the finish of which was converted home from more than yards.
Cech was also cautioned by the referee with a yellow card for dissent. Seedorf looked much more decided to score his first one in the 58th minute when the Dutch volleyed a perfect ball just over the bar from the edge of the box. Plzen broke back two minutes later through Horvath who found the target but could not beat the keeper, too. ]
Seedorf was then picked inside the box only to be blocked by one of Plzen’s defenders. Cassano managed to double the lead in the 66th minute following a trade mark action from Milan the finish of which was struck home. Coach Pavel Vrba made the first change in the 68th minute, introducing Michal Duris for Bakos. Massimiliano Allegro also used the first substitution a couple of minutes later.
The Italians replaced Seedorf with newly arrived Aquilani, who has already scored a goal for the Rossoneri. Martin Fillo replaced Pilar for Plzen in the 76th minute, while right defender Taiwo made way for Antonini. Duris got his first chance ten minutes after being introduced as the forwarder struck it poorly when he should have headed goalwards.
Abate departed for Marria de Sciglio, while Kolar made way for Vladimir Darida for the Czechs in the last minute. AC Milan won and have climbed top spot. Allegri’s side lead the group H with four points, having FC Barcelona just behind them with the same number of points. Plzen fell foot of the table with one point, sharing the position with BATE Borisov who were defeated 0-5 by FC Barcelona last night in Belarus.
Said Van Bommel after the game: “We needed the three points. We played well in some moments and they were good on the counter attack but in general we did well. We’ve played a lot of games in the last 2 weeks but we’re a strong side and when the injured players get back, we’ll be even better.”
AC Milan will next host BATE Borisov on San Siro on October 19, while Plzen travel to Camp Nou to face the European champions the same day.
AC Milan – Abbiati; Antonini, Thiago Silva, Nesta, Abate; van Bommel, Seedorf, Nocerino, Emanuelson; Ibrahimovic, Cassano. Reserves: S. Ganz, M. de Scilgio, M. Amelia, D. Bonera, M. Yepes, A. Aquilani, T. Taiwo.
Viktoria Plzen – Cech; Rajtoral, Bystron, Cisovsky, Limbersky; Horvath, Jiracek, Petrzela, Kolar, Pilar; Bakos. Reserves: P. Trapp, F. Sevinski, R. Reznik, M. Fillo, R. Pavlik, M. Duris, V. Darida.
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