Coppa: Roma stage Cup comeback

Milan surrendered a two-goal lead in the first leg of the Coppa Italia semi-final as Roma collected a precious 2-2 away draw.

It had looked as if the home side had one foot already in the Cup Final only to let a deserving Giallorossi outfit back into the tie.

Despite a clear lack of spectators at San Siro, there was a buzz in the air given the presence of Ronaldo in the crowd.

And the Rossoneri benefited immediately from the ‘Ronaldo effect’ as they took the lead in minute four through Ricardo Oliveira.

The Brazilian, whose poor form is a contributing factor to the probable capture of Big Ron, gave his side the edge after a Massimo Ambrosini pass caught out Cristian Chivu.

Oliveira took advantage by converting on goal and firing it low past Gianluca Curci to make it 1-0. However, the striker did perhaps control the ball with his arm in the build up.

Roma had a chance to hit back with Christian Wilhelmsson almost immediately, but his shot from a tight angle finished across the face of goal.

There was only one team in the tie in the opening 25 minutes and Kaka was running the show.

It was his inspired pass which found Marek Jankulovski and the Czech’s cross into the six-yard box was tapped home in typical Pippo Inzaghi fashion to make it 2-0.

Milan nearly made it three when Curci made a meal of an Andrea Pirlo free-kick, before Roma – without the suspended Rodrigo Taddei – finally woke up.

Francesco Totti failed to make contact with a Christian Panucci cross, but the ball fell to Simone Perrotta who nudged it into the back of the net from close range in the 29th minute.

The capital club, despite a decent and dangerous Rino Gattuso effort, grew in stature.

Amantino Mancini wasted a good headed opportunity before Roma made it 2-2 – with a little help from Nelson Dida. David Pizarro fired a central shot from the edge of the area and it went straight through the Brazilian ‘keeper.

The home side clearly wanted to make up for their first half ending and made a bright opening to the second period.

Kaka forced Curci to make a splendid flying save after chesting and volleying towards goal, while Pirlo fired another free-kick just over the bar.

Totti was having a relatively quiet night even if he worried the Rossoneri twice in the space of three minutes. His dead-ball effort drifted wide, but he brought a fine save out of Dida after a stunning 30-yard drive on the hour mark.

Although the action was swinging from one end to the other, both outfits were finding it tough to create any real opportunities as snow started to fall at the Meazza.

Kaka seemed to go missing and as a result, both Dario Simic and Pirlo tested Curci with ambitious long-range strikes which the Under-21 international got well behind.

Roma understandably seemed content with the result given their away goals, but they looked for a winner in the closing stages.

It was the impressive Wilhelmsson who almost made a name for himself but he was denied on three occasions by Dida’s reflexes.

Pizarro had the last noteworthy effort of the night, only to be stopped by Dida. It ended Milan 2 Roma 2.

They’ll meet again in the second leg next Wednesday in Rome to see who will probably meet Inter [3-0 up against Sampdoria] in this year’s Italian Cup Final.

Ancelotti: Roma are favourites

Milan boss Carlo Ancelotti insists Roma are in pole position to reach the Coppa Italia Final after last night’s 2-2 San Siro draw.

The Rossoneri made a lightning start to the tie by going 2-0 up thanks to Ricardo Oliveira and Filippo Inzaghi, but they allowed their opponents back into the game who will now start next week’s return with an away goals advantage.
“We did really well in the first part of the match, but then we weren’t aggressive enough and they took advantage on the counter-attack,” explained Ancelotti.
“Roma are a team who you can’t concede any space to and unfortunately we did.

“The qualification is still open but more complicated. We are forced to go to Rome to win or at least obtain a 3-3 draw.
“The chances of qualification are 70 per cent for Roma and 30 per cent for us.”
Milan goalkeeper Nelson Dida was clearly at fault for Roma’s second goal when a David Pizarro shot went straight through him, but the tactician defended his ‘keeper.

“He has just returned from an injury and made a mistake, but these things happen,” he argued. “The pitch was very slippery and we were all unable to play with our usual precision.”

Real Madrid striker Ronaldo was in the crowd ahead of his medical on Friday, but Ancelotti refused to speculate on what his arrival could mean for his side this term.
“I’ll wait until we get the results of his physical before making any comment,” concluded the former Milan midfielder.

Spalletti ‘regrets’ Milan draw

Luciano Spalletti has praised his men for their Coppa Italia semi-final comeback against Milan – although he insists they could have even won the game.
Ricardo Oliveira and Pippo Inzaghi put the home side 2-0 up in the first 23 minutes, but the Giallorossi kept their Final hopes alive by responding with Simone Perrotta and David Pizarro.

“Milan started very well,” noted the Coach. “We couldn’t find the right balance and Kaka created several problems.
“After their second goal however we got back on track and played well.
“We could have conceded more goals, but instead we offered a good performance. In the second half we had more opportunities and could have won,” added the tactician.

January arrival Christian Wilhelmsson impressed and Spalletti was keen to highlight his contribution.
“He had a great match and gave his all, both in quality and quantity,” he noted. “If he continues like this then I am sure that we will hear about him a lot in the future.
“[Milan boss] Carlo Ancelotti says their chances of qualifying are only at 30 per cent? I don’t agree, they are still 50-50.”

Amantino Mancini was also satisfied with the team’s performance and has called for support at the Stadio Olimpico in the return next Wednesday.
“It’s never easy for us to play at the Stadio Meazza and conceding two goals made things even more difficult, but we reacted well and showed personality,” stated the Brazilian.
“We will have to fight to qualify and I hope the stadium will be sold-out in Rome. Reaching the Final is very important for us.”

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