| MILAN,
February 6 (Serie A) - Hernan Crespo's priceless poaching
four minutes into stoppage time gave AC Milan a vital win
to move to within two points of leaders Juventus in the topsy
turvy race for the Scudetto.
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 |