It finished Udinese-Milan 2-1, in the second anticipated match of the 36th matchday of Serie A at the Stadio Friuli of Udine. After D'Agostino's penalty goal in the 31st minute of the first half, Zapata made it 2-0 in the 49th minute, and Massimo Ambrosini made it 2-1 with a header from Ambrosini.At the Friuli stadium Milan face Udinese to gain the three points to access mathematically the next Champions League. The formation is the usual one with two strikers plus the playmaker, Dida between the posts, after missing the match against Juventus; defence with Zambrotta, Senderos, Maldini and Jankulovski; in midfield, Flamini, Pirlo, and Ambrosini; up front, supported by Seedorf, Kaká and Pato who started again after almost a month. Inzaghi started from the bench, as did Ronaldinho and Shevchenko. Captain Maldini celebrated his 900th match with Milan's shirt.
As for Udinese, coach Pasquale Marino preferred Floro Flores to Sanchez. For the rest, compared to the pre-match expectations, 10 players out of 11 were confirmed in the Bianconeri's formation with Handanovic, Isla, Zapata, Felipe (who returned after skipping the match with Lazio), Pasquale, Inler, D'Agostino, Asamoah, Pepe, Quagliarella, and Floro Flores.
In the early stages of the first half there were few chances at the Friuli. In the 16th minute chance for Milan, after a series of passes in the area, rounded off by Pato's header for Ambrosini who shot it wide. In the 19th minute a nice turn and shot by Inler, deflected for a corner by the Rossoneri's defence. In the 22nd minute there was some danger for the Milan goal, with Quagliarella's header blocked in two attempts by Dida. In the 30th minute referee Rizzoli awarded a very debatable penalty to Udinese for an alleged tug by Maldini on Floro Flores. D'Agostino took the penalty and did not miss: the ball went under the crossbar to Dida's right, and for the Udinese playmaker it was the sixth goal in the last six games. The first half ended on a slow rhythm, with an overly inert Milan unable to make themselves dangerous.
A change for Milan at the start of the second half: Inzaghi in for Flamini, Seedorf retreats in midfield, Kaká moves behind the strikers in the playmaker's position.
But immediately at the start of the second half (4') came the cold shower for the Rossoneri thanks to Zapata's readiness, as he poked the ball in from close range after a corner kick move and an involuntary assist by Maldini. Just before, a dubious episode in the Friulani's area: Pato played it in for Ambrosini who fell, but Rizzoli said play on. Before that, Pepe hit a free kick that went inches wide.
In the 15th minute Inzaghi scored but it was clearly offside and then came a second change for Milan: Seedorf out, Ronaldinho in to compose a highly offensive 4-2-3-1, with Kaká on the right, Pato on the left, and the Gaucho in the center behind Superpippo. In the 20th minute a nice run by D'Agostino, who won the ball in midfield and made a run towards Dida's goal: the Brazilian blocked it, not without problems.
In the 28th minute third and last change for Milan, with Shevchenko taking the place of Pato, and the first for Udinese: Floro Flores out, Sanchez in. The final part of the match was exciting: the Rossoneri pushed, in injury time Inzaghi came very close to scoring, then Ambrosini scored with a splendid header on an assist by Kaká, and a few seconds later Quagliarella also hit the post. It finished 2-1 for Udinese and Milan's positive run, that started on 8 March, came to an end.
UDINESE-MILAN: OFFICIAL FORMATIONS
5/16/2009
Udinese: Handanovic; Isla, Zapata, Felipe, Pasquale; Inler, D'Agostino, Asamoah; Pepe, Quagliarella, Floro Flores.
Milan: Dida; Zambrotta, Senderos, Maldini, Jankulovski; Flamini, Pirlo, Ambrosini; Seedorf; Kakà, Pato.
