The Argentinian striker was on hand to prod home after Kaka's daisycutter had rebounded off the post and back out into the area.

But it was the introduction of substitute Andriy Shevchenko in a 30-minute cameo following an ankle injury that turned a game from which an inept Milan had previously looked incapable of getting anything.

The Ukraine striker struck a brilliant free-kick, cancelling out Massimo Oddo's second-half penalty and breathing new life into the Rossoneri.

Such a rousing final quarter was in stark contrast to a scrappy, uninspiring first half that had little going for it save for the odd moment of magical footwork from Kaka.

It began at a frenetic pace but Lazio's work rate in closing Milan's creative players down meant that there were few clear openings at either end.

Goran Pandev's 17th-minute spin and shot had Dida scrambling across his goal although it missed the post by a good yard.

Jaap Stam, lining up against his old club in an unfamiliar right-back role, cut in from the right and hit a left footed drive that skewed into the crowd two minutes later.

Kaka then lashed wildly over as Lazio continued to defend deep and in numbers with few scares.

Clarence Seedorf struck powerfully goalwards from the edge of the area but it was straight at Angelo Peruzzi in the Lazio goal and he was able to punch clear.

On the stroke of half time, Crespo headed a Kaka delivery from the left back across goal but with his back to goal Jon Dahl Tomasson could only acrobatically volley high over the bar.

Ten minutes after the restart, substitute Fabio Liverani's clever ball over the top of a square Milan defence found Tommaso Rocchi bearing down on goal.

But Stam clattered into the side of the forward who tumbled in the area and, although Dida got a hand to Oddo's spot kick, he could not keep it out.

Changes were needed to improve a lacklustre Milan display and after replacing Tomasson, Shevchenko immediately announced his arrival with a dipping strike from 25 yards that flew narrowly wide.

Brazilian duo Cafu and Serginho also came on to provide width and the latter set up Shevchenko for a chance that he misdirected with his head.

Cafu then shrugged off a challenge to cross from the right that the Ukraine hitman nodded past the far upright.

Shevchenko, whose arrival had energised the previously ponderous Milan attack, then fired across the area but Crespo could only slide wide at the back post.

And in the 71st minute the European Footballer of the Year showed what Milan had been missing with a sensational 30-yard free kick that curled into the top right-hand corner to get the Rossoneri back on track.

The home side flooded forward scenting three points when before Shevchenko's arrival defeat had looked inevitable.

Former Milan favourite Paolo Di Canio then came on to face his old club for the first time since he swapped the San Siro for Celtic Park in 1996.

Latching onto a square ball from Shevchenko, Cafu was only inches from hitting the winner in the 80th minute.

Time was running out for Milan when Stam tried his luck from distance to no avail and Lazio's sturdy defending seemed to have got its rewards.

But with seconds left, the South American combination of Kaka and Crespo delivered three invaluable points as the Italian champions showed that they are not going to relinquish their crown without a fight