Eurosport - Thu, 29 Jan 06:13:00 2009
David Beckham scored his second goal in as many games for Milan but the Rossoneri were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Genoa.
Beckham's stunning free-kick looked to have given Milan a valuable three points in front of the watching Fabio Capello, but a late Diego Milito goal gave battling Genoa a share of the spoils at the San Siro.
However, Milan have a concern over the midifielder, who suffered a minor groin injury.
"It's the abductor. We'll have to see how it is tomorrow," Beckham said.
"I felt it before the game and then again just before half-time. I got to 20 minutes in in the second half and I felt it a little bit more.
"It's painful, but hopefully I will be fit for the game at the weekend."
As Beckham and Milan ponder a permanent move, the draw means that the Rossoneri failed to take advantage of Juve's defeat at Udinese and remain two points behind in second place.
Genoa's point means they remain in fourth spot, just four points behind Milan and in a Champions League position.
Beckham seemed determined to impress the England manager as he bids for a record-equalling 108th cap, and fired a 25-yarder that flashed past Genoa keeper Rubinho's post in the opening seconds.
It took eight minutes before Genoa had their first sight of goal. Thiago Motta was brought down and Milito's subsequent free kick flew well over Christian Abbiati's bar.
As Milan grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck, Alexandre Pato almost got through only to be flagged offside, before Genoa's Ivan Juric gave away one of a host of free kicks.
Pato stepped up and almost stole Beckham's thunder with a thumping strike that left the Genoa bar vibrating.
Salvatore Bocchetti directed a header wide in a rare attack for Genoa but the Rossoneri soon got the goal their endeavour deserved.
Pato was brought down to the right of the Genoa box and with the visitors expecting a flighted free kick, Beckham saw a gap and crashed the ball home at the near post.
Genoa then came within a couple of yards of a spot kick as Motta was fouled by Gianluca Zambrotta and Abbiati did well to save the Genoa man's low drive from the edge of the area.
At the other end, Andrea Pirlo also hit the bar from another Milan free kick, but this time, Rubinho appeared to have it covered.
The second half became a cagey affair as Milan seemed content to pass the ball around in front of the visitors' backline, but with the pressure reduced, Genoa took heart.
Subs Bosko Jankovic and Anthony Vanden Borre linked up well only for the Belgian to fire straight at the waiting Abbiati.
Carlo Ancelotti sent on Mathieu Flamini for Beckham, but more tellingly Philippe Senderos for Clarence Seedorf as the Milan coach looked to sit on the one-goal lead.
Milan still threatened and the third Milan sub, Ronaldinho, forced Rubinho into a superb far post save from a similar dead-ball position to Beckham's goal.
But with time running out, Genoa struck a hammer blow.
Jankovic had already pulled an amazing save out of Abbiati from six yards out after Raffaele Palladino delivered a pinpoint cross, but from an identical delivery minutes later, the ball found its way to Milito.
The Argentinian looked to be offside as he swept the ball home from close range, but Milan looked in vain for a flag to save them all three points.
Comment 1 - 16 of 16
maybe serie A not as fast as PL, but football is not only about speed isn't it??
Don't say anything against Ronaldinho... x((
to shoo:i don't know if im wrong.but, i think i've just described all ac milan players are sux but NOT beckham.i said milan would be absolutely waste without beckham and i did watch the game.
I had no interest in watching the games at present....I found a hot place, you guys should try it ___Wealthy beauty co m_____a great place for rich people to meet their soul mates....
The pace of Serie A is nowhere near as fast as the PL, it is more like a game of chess with a ball. Beckham was never the fastest anyway but he could play for a couple of years there and perhaps have a chance of going to the world cup with England. He is worth a shot and Armani will give him a contract in Milan as well to boost his pocket money
Diego Militos a goal scoring machine!
Rudi, do you even watch the games? with him, you lose 1-0. lack of passing? no fighting spirit? lazy? please, you just described Ronaldinho, not Beckham. sounds like you're just jealous of the sex you obviously aren't having.
Rudi, you talk utter @#$% mate!!
i used to be hard-die milan fan.but now, i @#$% hate milan players.@#$% on them.hope they(berlusconi/galliani) will sack big fat ancelotti and sell kaka,ronaldinho,inzaghi,ambrosini,favalli,kaladze,nesta .then, use that money to buy more young and talented lads.
all milan players are badass except beckham.low level of stamina, lack of passing, no fighting spirit, lazy and sleepy especially to grandpa maldini and uncle seedorf.about kaka, i think he is now too slow compared last two years.he even had to dive for a sympathy free-kick.i guess he had sex too many times.
@#$%
is Serie A on TV in the UK?????
fantastiko
Becks should stick with Milan, by the looks of it he has a few good years left in him..especially in Serie A
Why on earth would he want2 go back2 Galaxy after this in front of fans with a passion4 their Football? (not soccer!!!)
Pity. 't was a great goal.
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