Milan win Super Cup
AC Milan 3 Sevilla 1
Sevilla, still grieving from the sudden death of their brilliant young midfielder Antonio Puerta, found themselves on the losing end of an incisive performance by European champions Milan in the UEFA Super Cup in Monaco.
Milan underwent a transformation after a poor first half by their standards, and goals from Filippo Inzaghi, Marek Jankulovski – a quite stunning strike - and Kaka secured victory for the Italians over the UEFA Cup holders from Andalucia.
Puerta’s tragic death made this a poignant occasion in the Stade Louis II in Monaco, despite the best intentions of the Sevilla fans to remember their hero in rousing fashion while Milan supporters too chanted his name.
The kick-off was proceeded by a period of silence for the 22-year-old. The Sevilla players wore shirts bearing Puerta’s name underneath their number, while those on the bench had shirts with the midfielder’s squad number 16 on the back.
Despite the poignancy of the occasion, both Sevilla and Milan displayed a determination to win, though the Spaniards’ desire was the greater in the first half.
They threatened first but Renato fired well wide after being presented with a gift of a chance by Massimo Oddo’s feeble clearance.
Then Inzaghi, Milan’s hero of the Champions League final against Liverpool, cut inside a defender and Kaka pinched the shot off the end of his team-mate’s toe but could only find the side-netting.
In the 14th minute Renato opened the scoring after more poor defending by Milan. Duda took a corner from the right and the Brazilian midfielder found himself unmarked at the far post to head down past Dida in the Milan goal.
Frederic Kanoute’s cross-shot caused more trouble for Milan then Duda thundered a 35-yard free-kick a yard over the bar.
There was another Renato let-off for Milan when Kanoute skipped around Dida and cut the ball back only for his team-mate to have his shot blocked on the line by Alessandro Nesta.
Clarence Seedorf was equally wasteful at the other end with a close-range header.
Milan were considerably more up for it in the second half as Sevilla’s heads dropped.
With Seedorf going on some useful forays, Milan started to dominate and the equaliser came in the 56th minute, converted expertly by Inzaghi after some outstanding work by Rino Gattuso who produced a mouthwatering cross for Inzaghi to bullet home a header.
Gattuso ran to his bench and, in a bizarre celebration, gave Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti a forceful two-handed shove.
Within six minutes, while Gattuso was off the field getting treatment for a head injury, Milan were ahead courtesy of some Jankulovski brilliance.
From deep in his own half Andrea Pirlo flighted a long searching pass into space on the left and the Czech full-back, at full pelt, met the ball on the half-volley and sent it swerving beyond Andres Palop’s grasp.
Kaka ended the contest three minutes from time after having his heels clipped by Ivica Dragutinovic. Palop parried the Brazilian’s spot-kick but the ball rebounded nicely for Kaka who nodded home for Milan’s third.
