04.08.2002 - Match Report: AC Milan 1-2 Liverpool
Liverpool finished the Real Madrid Centenary Tournament with a win over Milan, to finish the competition in third place.
Emile Heskey had a free header just 6 yards from goal, after an excellent cross from Barmby, but the big England forward put the ball wide.
It was around 15 minutes before another good chance arrived for either side, and it was Milan Baros who went close to scoring. Smicer played a short pass behind the defence, and Baros hit a first time shot toward the far post of Dida's goal, but the Brazilian keeper made a good one handed save.
Almost immediately, Milan broke forward and came close to opening the scoring themselves, with Shevchenko playing a low cross into the six yard box which beat both Henchoz and Hyypia, but Jon Dahl Tomasson mis-hit his shot when a goal looked a certainty. The game had really come to life, and Liverpool were soon in front.
Steve Gerrard played a dangerous cross towards the far post, and Dario Simic, under pressure from Baros, got his foot to the ball and steered it into his own net.
Shortly after that goal, Liverpool went 2-0 up and again Gerrard was involved. His cross fromt he right found the head of Baros, and the Czech Republic striker powered a header past Dida with just over 35 minutes played.
Shevchenko came close to pulling one back for Milan in first half stoppage time, but in trying to place the ball perfectly into the bottom corner of Kirkland's goal, Shevchenko saw his effort go past the wrong side of the post.
Milan started the second half looking the brighter side, and were close to scoring in the opening 10 minutes of the half, but Djimi Traore did brilliantly to intercept a cross which had beat Kirkland, and was on it's was to Shevchenko who would only have had to touch the ball into an empty net from 5 yards out.
The Italians were back in the game within a couple of minutes though, and it was Tomasson who got the final touch to a shot from Contra.
Milan were on top of the game at that point and went in search of a quick equalising goal, but a counter attack from Liverpool saw Milan Baros cause problems for Maldini, and his cross found Gerrard, who got a touch to divert the ball goalwards, but a fine save by Dida kept the score down.
Milan Baros went close with a shot from outside the area late on, but the 2-1 scoreline proved to be enough to secure the win.
Teams
Milan:Dida, Kaladze, Simic (Aubameyang 45), Domeraud (Laursen 45), Maldini, Contra, Ambrosini, Seedorf, Pirlo (Serginho 66), Tomasson (Boriello 74), Shevchenko
Goals: Tomasson (55)
Liverpool:Kirkland, Babbel (Riise 81), Henchoz, Hyypia (Carragher 45), Traore, Barmby (Diouf 74), Gerrard (Murphy 71), Biscan (Hamann 58), Smicer, Heskey, Baros
Goals: Simic (31,og), Baros (35)
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