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Shevchenko secures AC Milan win
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-10-31 10:50 AC Milan maintained the
pressure on Serie A leaders Juventus on Saturday after a goal by striker Andriy
Shevchenko gave them a 1-0 win against Sampdoria.
The result consolidated Milan's second place in the division with 20 points
from nine games, two fewer than Juve who host Chievo Verona on Sunday.
Milan's city rivals Inter are a further seven points adrift after losing the
lead to draw 1-1 with Lazio at the San Siro stadium.
Milan had won all their away matches this season, but Sampdoria's defence
comfortably soaked up the pressure in a tight first half.
The best chance before the interval came in the 34th minute, when home keeper
Francesco Antonioli turned Jon Dahl Tomasson's shot round the post.
After the break Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti replaced Tomasson with Shevchenko
and the substitution paid off in the 76th minute when winger Serginho surged
through Sampdoria's defence.
Antonioli blocked his shot, but couldn't prevent the ball falling into the
path of the Ukrainian, who slotted home the rebound.
'His (Shevchenko's) entrance was fundamental, but the whole squad played
well,' said Ancelotti afterwards.
'The important thing was to keep pace with Juventus and we managed that.
Everything is going well, we're in good shape.'
'It has been an amazing two days,' said Shevchenko, who also celebrated the
birth of his son, Jordan, on Friday.
'I only rejoined the team this morning and now I've scored the winning goal.'
Inter had a less happy time at the San Siro stadium. They struggled to impose
themselves against Lazio who went close to establishing a first-half lead when
goalkeeper Alberto Fontana had to dive to turn Christian Manfredini's free kick
round his post.
Inter came out in a more determined fashion after the break, however, and
took the lead less than 60 seconds later when Adriano raced on to a long pass
and beat keeper Matteo Sereni with a powerful left-footed shot.
For long periods of the second half Lazio's attack failed to threaten at all,
but with six minutes remaining defender Leonardo Talamonti rose to head a cross
past Fontana and condemn Inter to their seventh draw in nine games.
It was also the fourth time this season that Inter had squandered a winning
position after losing the lead in previous Serie A matches against Palermo, AS
Roma and Lecce.
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