Shevchenko's late equaliser earns Milan point at Lazio
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Updated: 2002-02-04 09:33

Andrey Shevchenko snatched a point for AC Milan in the second minute of injury time in a 1-1 draw with Lazio in the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday.

Former AC Milan coach Alberto Zaccheroni, who lead Milan to the championship in 1999 was ready to celebrate his first victory over his former side at the fourth attempt before Shevchenko struck.

The draw helped neither side, who were both seeking a win to boost their chase for the final Champions League place that means so much to their status and finances in the year ahead.

Manchester United midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron, a former favourite of the Laziale, got the biggest cheer before the game when he took his place in the stands.

Rumours still abound with his return to Rome, a stark contrast to the reaction by the home fans to most of their team as names were read out - greeted by jeers following a disappointing season.

UNSTOPPABLE EFFORT

But after a quiet opening to the game, they had something positive to cheer about. 20 minutes into the game, Yugoslavia international Dejan Stankovic picked up the ball midway inside the AC Milan half and let fly with an unstoppable effort that flew into the top corner.

Lazio laid siege to the Milan goal after that and Karel Poborsky should have doubled their lead. The Czech midfielder latched on to a Claudio Lopez flick-on from Cesar's cross, but his miscontrol allowed AC Milan goalkeeper Christian Abbiati to recover.

Abbiati had to be at his best five minutes into the second half when Stankovic fired goalwards again, but this time he tipped the shot over the bar.

Stankovic shot over midway through the second half after good work by Lopez and Gennaro Gattuso almost scored an own goal when Lazio broke three on two.

But despite dominating, Lazio's task became more difficult when Fernando Couto was sent off with just under 15 minutes remaining. Giuseppe Pancaro seemed to make a perfectly fair challenge on Andrey Shevchenko but the referee gave a free kick on the edge of the Lazio box and Couto was sent off for his protests.

After Lopez had missed more chances, Brazil winger Serginho won a late corner, Kakhaber Kaladze headed goalwards and Shevchenko deflected it into the net despite a last ditch block by Stankovic on the line.