After failing to get all three points in their last two league matches, Ac Milan finally get their Scudetto campaign back on track after defeating Cesena 2-0 at San Siro with all the goals comes from Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s influence.
The Rossoneri fans were left with some concern until the last minute as the fashion capital side were rather wasteful in front of goal, despite dominating the game and created tons of good goal scoring chances.
Heading into the game knowing the importance of a win as Napoli are breathing on their neck, the Rossoneri actually looked nervous at the first 20 minutes of the game. The make shift formation that Massimiliano Allegri have to put out after late injuries that happened to Gennaro Gattuso and Mathieu Flamini, forced the former Cagliari coach to once again field 18-years-old Alexander Merkel and moved Thiago Silva as a defensive midfielder.
This uncharacteristic set up doesn’t seem to work out well in the earlier minutes as Cesena actually managed to trouble Milan especially with the intensive pressure that Schelotto gives to the Rossoneri’s left back Luca Antonini. Things began to look bad for the Rossoneri after Alessandro Nesta was being forced to leave the match because reportedly dislocating his shoulder, making way for another early changes with Sokratis Papasthoupolous slotting at center back along with Mario Yepes.
However, Nesta’s injury somehow sparked the life out of Milan that started to dominate the game and creating plenty of goal scoring chances as the attacking trio of Ibrahimovic, Antonio Cassano and Robinho started to find their rhythm. After plenty of goal scoring chances being waster, the Rossoneri finally get the goal they pretty much deserved as a spark of Cassano’s magic helped Ibra getting into a great position but just the big Swede trying to pull the trigger, Pellegrino, stuck out his leg only to put the ball into his own net.
Leading 1-0 in the first half, Milan started the second period with the same attitude as they finish the first but once again their poor finishing in front of the goal left some frustration among the fans as the home team kept on missing chances after chances. Robinho, was pretty much one of the guilty party as despite his dominant performance, his finishing was something left to be desired as the striker missed at least three great goal scoring opportunities that a player of his quality should be able put away.
Fortunately for Milan, deep in injury time Ibrahimovic once again proved his decisiveness for the Rossoneri as the striker finally managed to finish off a chance for the home team after his shot beautifully slot into Cesena’s net. The goal surely sealed the victory for the fashion capital side and ensured them another breathing space ahead of Napoli as the red and black squad are back within four points ahead on the second place possition.
Match Report
Milan v Cesena 2-0
Goals: Pellegrino og 45, Ibrahimovic 93 (Milan)
Milan: Abbiati; Abate, Nesta (Papastathopoulos 23), Yepes, Antonini; Thiago Silva, Ambrosini, Merkel; Robinho; Cassano (Pato 84), Ibrahimovic
Cesena: Antonioli; Ceccarelli, Pellegrino, Von Bergen, Dellafiore (Benalouane 79); Caserta, Colucci, Parolo; Schelotto (Sammarco 53), Budan (Bogdani 53), Malonga
photo credit: Catatan Bola Photo Gallery
