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Serie A Week 15 - 10/12/06 (14.00 UK)
Milan 0 - 0 Torino
Stadio Meazza

Alberto Gilardino was the villain at San Siro afer firing a penalty on to the upright, as Milan disappointed once again.

Alberto Zaccheroni returned to face the club that fired him in 2001, hoping to further compound their crisis. Milan were booed off the pitch after Wednesday's 2-0 Champions League defeat to Lille and were dealing with a spate of injuries, including Gennaro Gattuso, Alessandro Nesta, Dida, Serginho, Giuseppe Favalli, Massimo Ambrosini, Alessandro Costacurta, Kakha Kaladze and Kaka on top of Andrea Pirlo's suspension.

Carlo Ancelotti fielded a trident attack with Marcos Cafu returning at right-back. Toro had Marco Di Loreto on a ban, but Milan-owned goalkeeper Christian Abbiati between the posts.

Clarence Seedof's strike was deflected off target and another effort from the edge of the area pushed round the post by his former teammate Abbiati. Alberto Gilardino's timid penalty appeals for a Gabriele Cioffi push were waved away. Marek Jankulovski drilled just wide from 30 metres.

Seedorf and Gilardino combined passes at speed on 27 minutes, but Marco Borriello ballooned the finish over the bar from just inside the area. Abbiati flew out to punch away Marcos Cafu's free kick.

Borriello's volley was charged down by Brevi at the near post and Alessandro Rosina's lob was just over the bar. Borriello's looping header from a Paolo Maldini cross went over.

Torino's best chance of the game so far arrived straight after the break. Rosina went off on the counter-attack and only a perfectly-timed tackle from Maldini prevented him beating Zeljko Kalac.

Moments later Rosina sparked another counter, setting up Gianluca Comotto's volley that whistled past the far post.

Under-21 international Rosina was a constant threat and he forced a fine save out of Kalac with his angled drive.

Milan had their first real scoring opportunity on 56 minutes, as Ricardo Oliveira's header was blocked right on the line by Abbiati. Gattuso made his comeback much earlier than expected from his injury, replacing Yoann Gourcuff, while Pippo Inzaghi and Daniele Bonera also came on.

14 minutes from time, Cioffi tackled Gilardino from behind and did not seem to get the ball, so the referee pointed to the spot. The ex-Parma striker insisted on taking the penalty himself - a decision he may well regret, as he fired it on to the upright and then faield to turn in the ricochet!

Seedorf wasted a couple of good chances and there were more penalty appeals for a Cioffi handling offence, while Jankulovski's strike was charged down by Franceschini.

Milan have complained about the number of times they've hit the woodwork this season, but the frame of the goal came to their rescue at the 88th. Roberto Muzzi hit the bar twice in the space of five seconds with two acrobatic efforts and Kalac well beaten.

It was end to end stuff with either side able to win it and Kalac allowed a Muzzi angled drive to bounce off his chest, gifting Torino a corner.


Milan: Kalac; Cafu, Simic, Maldini, Jankulovski; Gourcuff (Gattuso 61), Brocchi, Seedorf; Ricardo Oliveira (Inzaghi 71), Borriello (Bonera 75), Gilardino

Torino: Abbiati; Brevi (Doudou 75), Cioffi, Franceschini; Comotto, Barone, De Ascentis, Balestri; Lazetic (Ardito 83), Rosina; Stellone (Muzzi 74)

Ref: Girardi

Missed penalty: Gilardino 77 (M)




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Pictures: Richiardi (Milan)
& Getty Images (UK)


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