Saturday March 31, 2012 Day 30 Finished Stadio Angelo Massimino

Catania 1 - 1 AC Milan

  • Spolli 57’
  • Robinho 34’

  1. Robinho 'ghost goal' costs Milan

    Robinho 'ghost goal' costs Milan

    An off-colour AC Milan could only muster a 1-1 at Catania which extended their lead at the top of Serie A to five points. More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • Catania
    • AC Milan
    • 90+4' FULL TIME: Catania have a chance to win it right at the end, but the shot after Bergessio's cross from Izco is blocked! What an ending that would have been after an exciting game!
    • 90+3' Catania swap Seymour for Almiron as the clock runs down a little further.
    • 90+2' No - Ibrahimovic hit that too powerfully, and the hands were by the body. The controversy for today will be Robinho's 'did it cross the line?' shot half an hour ago...
    • 90+2' Ibrahimovic tries a volley from the far side and it's blocked - but the Swede thinks it might have been a penalty for handball...
    • 90+1' Catania shovel it clear as three extra minutes are confirmed.
    • 90' Boateng and Ibrahimovic combine to go close - corner for the visitors as we approach stoppage time.
    • 89' IBRAHIMOVIC CLOSE! Did he mean a shot or was he trying to cross? Looks like the former, but either way Carrizo had to be athletic to pull off the save at the expense of a corner.
    • 88' Lanzafame penalised for a handball, but Milan going nowhere fast, and time is running out in this one.
    • 87' Good cross from the left from Llamas, but there's no Catania team-mate in the box to get on the end of it.
    • 86' KPB punished for pushing Marchese - strong defending from the Catania man because he's found Boateng a handful since his introduction.
    • 85' Change for Catania too - Lanzagame replaces Gomez, who looks exhausted.
    • 84' Aquilani off, Maxi Lopez on for Milan.
    • 83' Gomez has his shot blocked and Catania go wide to Llamas - his cross finds Gomez, but at too awkward an angle to get a decent header on goal.
    • 82' Milan just starting to control things in these last few minutes. Can they get the goal to go with their control?
    • 81' Marchese unhappy at not getting a free kick after being fouled near his own corner flag by Boateng, but he's tired as much as anything.
    • 80' Flashed volley from Lodi as the ball rattles around the area and pops out to he midfielder - but it's wide of the target. Milan counter at pace, and Ibrahimovic's shot from an acute angle goes wide of the far post.
    • 79' Abate has to block Llamas' dangerous-looking cross at the expense of a corner.
    • 78' Mexes with a much tamer header, Carrizo gathers with ease and throws the ball upfield.
    • 77' WHAT A SAVE FROM CARRIZO! He gets low to deny Mexes whose header looked too good to stop. And he holds on to the ball too to avoid the prowling Milan strikers chasing the rebound!
    • 76' Marchese has to defend doggedly to deny El Shaaraway a cross and force a corner.
    • 75' Both sides would stay where they are - in seventh and first respectively - if the scoreline stayed this way. Milan risk losing ground to Juventus, while Inter will eye leapfrogging Catania tomorrow.
    • 74' Milan still ahead in terms of possession - they've enjoyed 54% of the ball - but they haven't made it count.
    • 73' Robinho off, El Shaarawy on as Milan make another change.
    • 72' Gomez brought down near the halfway line and Catania have a free kick.
    • 71' Catania make a change - Barrentios comes off, Llama replaces him.
    • 70' KPB frustated to see a goal lick given rather than a corner for his run, but he was the last man to make contact with the ball.
    • 69' A Milan move breaks down when the ball is knocked down beyond Antonini on the flank.
    • 68' Fresh replays of the Robinho goal-line clearance make it look like ball might have crossed the line after all. It will be the talking point if Milan don't win this one, that's for sure. And the goal-line technology debate will get an airing in Italy.
    • 67' Extraordinary reaction from Almiron, who punches the ground in frustration at that chance. It wasn't a sitter, Sergio!
    • 66' Vicious hit from Almiron, just over the bar from distance.
    • 65' Replays show Marchese's boot was behind the line when he cleared the ball, but did the whole ball cross the line? Doesn't look like it. Mighty, mighty close though.
    • 64' ROBINHO SHOT CLEARED OFF THE LIN! MILAN THINK THEY SCORED! He was played in by Ibrahimovic and his shot lacked power, but with the keeper beaten it was all on Marchese to stop it, and he did - just!
    • 63' Cross for Bergessio just beyond the striker, but Lodi wasn't far away there.
    • 62' Boateng unhappy to be flagged offside now, and with reason - he hadn't even left his own half!
    • 61' As Milan come again Ibra is unlucky to be found offside when he had just his run well.
    • 60' A rare venture forward from Milan, but it comes to a halt with an aimless cross from Ibrahimovic.
    • 59' Yellow for Ambrosini, who slices into a tackle against Bergessio.
    • 58' Now they've got their equaliser, the question is whether Catania can sustain their momentum. They've been the better side in this match and dominated since the interval.
    • 57' CATANIA LEVEL! SPOLLI SCORES! And it's nothing less than they deserved. It was far from pretty but Legrottaglie got the first header on it and Spolli bundled it over from a couple of yards.
    • 56' Another corner for Catania - Gomez to knock it in.
    • 55' GREAT HIT FROM LODI FROM RANGE! And only just wide! It would have beaten Abbiati had it been creeping in at the far post - it was sweetly struck.
    • 54' Not this time: Spolli pops up at the far post but his header loops over the crossbar.
    • 53' Marchese wins a corner as Abate blocks him off. All Catania so far in this second period - can they get their equaliser?
    • 52' Kevin Prince-Boateng replaces Emanuelson for Milan. Interesting switch early in the second half from the league leaders.
    • 51' BERGESSIO CLOSE! Nice free kick, just a shade wide of target.
    • 50' Mexes into the book for a poor challenge just outside the box. Catania swarming forward here.
    • 49' CATANIA CLOSE AGAIN! Desperate block from Antonini and that had echoes of the midweek display of defending against Barcelona.
    • 48' Ah - that sheds some light on the incident - looks like Barrientos is coming back from an offside ball to flick the ball on to him. Good spot from the assistant referee.
    • 47' CATANIA GOAL DISALLOWED! Hard to see exactly why as the cross comes in from the right from Bergessio and Gomez nods in. That is a bitter blow for the home side.
    • 46' The second half begins!
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    • 45+2' HALF TIME: Milan some way short of their best, but still good enough to be in front. Plenty for spirited Catania to do, but they're not out of it yet.
    • 45+1' Bergessio doesn't take kindly to being called on a free kick. He appeals in vain, as Milan get going.
    • 45' Two added minutes to play, mainly because of that injury to Ambrosini earlier.
    • 44' Long-range effort from Ibrahimovic, ultimately struck very timidly and ends with an easy save for Carrizo.
    • 43' After Barrientos finally lifts himself up Catania settle for a throw in.
    • 42' Barrientos wants a foul after he was brought down by Antonini - he is making a meal of it, but he was certainly caught.
    • 41' Possession 57% / 43% in Milan's favour at the moment - but Catania still dangerous when they're on the ball.
    • 40' Barrientos felled just inside the Milan half and Catania are back on the attack.
    • 39' Marchese takes it forward again, linking with Gomez, who wins a throw.
    • 38' Catania still fighting hard in this one, as you would expect from a side up in seventh in the table this season.
    • 37' SHOT FROM GOMEZ! HITS THE BAR! He fires from just outside the box and leaves Abbiati for dead, but the woodwork comes to Milan's rescue.
    • 36' Motta tries to lift the ball into the area but Milan clear this time.
    • 35' Milan have been ordinary for the first 35 minutes, but suddenly get it together and take the lead. That's how champions do it. Now what do Catania have by means of a reply?
    • 34' GOAL! ROBINHO PUTS MILAN IN FRONT! That's where class tells. The Brazilian gets on the end of a return pass from Ibrahimovic after the Swede had shown strength to hold up the ball, and then buries the finish.
    • 33' Antonini looks for a way down the left, but there is none.
    • 32' Allegri looks unflustered on the touchline, but he'll be underwhelmed by the performance so far.
    • 31' Ibrahimovic nods a ball just beyond Ambrosini's reach.
    • 30' Heave forward from Carrizo as Catania clear their lines.
    • 29' Milan could take a seven-point lead at the top with victory today (albeit until tomorrow when Juventus play) - but they don't look like doing that so far.
    • 28' Emanuelson tries to get Milan on their way, but it's an aimless ball forward.
    • 27' Almiron breaks up another Milan move and gets Catania on their way - he's done that more than once in the early stages of this match.
    • 26' Out on the full; a disappointing set piece.
    • 25' Lodi stands over a free kick from deep, but Catania push forward for it.
    • 24' Marchese has a look down the left hand side but runs out of options. Milan try to break with Robinho but the ball to him goes out of play.
    • 23' Milan look a little bit off the pace - still feeling the after-effects of the midweek clash against Barcelona?
    • 22' Strong play from Nocerino to hold off Bergessio as Catania continue to apply pressure.
    • 21' CATANIA CLOSE! The home side very nearly take the lead after a flowing move ends with a header narrowly over the bar from Bergessio! They've more than held their own so far.
    • 20' Ambrosini was down for a couple of minutes with an injury but able to continue.
    • 19' Closest chance so far fell to Ibrahimovic, who was played through but couldn't get his shot away.
    • 18' Sorry - technical troubles getting this game started. It's 0-0 in Catania.
    • 16:55 Massimo Allegri: "The result in Barcelona will be a consequence of what will happen in Catania. It's a challenging week but we have to take it one game at a time. We must return home from Sicily with maximum points because it is crucial heading into our Champions League tie. But we are in good form and we have to be confident."
    • 16:50 Home coach Vincenzo Montella is without defender Alessandro Potenza and midfielder Marco Biagianti due to injury, but full-back Marco Motta is back.
    • 16:45 Milan have right-back Ignazio Abate fit after he missed the midweek Champions League draw against Barcelona with a thigh strain. Mark van Bommel misses the game with a niggling back injury and Alessandro Nesta has not recovered from cramps suffered against Barca.
    • 16:40 CATANIA (4-3-3): Carrizo; Motta, Legrottaglie, Spolli, Marchese; Izco, Lodi, Almiron; Barrientos, Gomez, Bergessio. /// MILAN (4-3-1-2): Abbiati; Abate, Bonera, Mexes, Antonini; Aquilani, Ambrosini, Nocerino; Emanuelson; Ibrahimovic, Robinho.
    • 16:35 Milan, who have 63 points from 29 games, have shown few signs of slipping up although they may be vulnerable as they face a difficult trip to Catania only three days after a demanding Champions League match against Barcelona. Catania battled back for a 2-2 draw at Napoli one week ago and are hoping to qualify at the very least for the Europa League.
    • 16:30 Milan can extend their advantage at the top of Serie A to seven points with a win at seventh-placed Catania tonight.

  • Summary

    • 89' IBRAHIMOVIC CLOSE! Did he mean a shot or was he trying to cross? Looks like the former, but either way Carrizo had to be athletic to pull off the save at the expense of a corner.
    • 80' Flashed volley from Lodi as the ball rattles around the area and pops out to he midfielder - but it's wide of the target. Milan counter at pace, and Ibrahimovic's shot from an acute angle goes wide of the far post.
    • 77' WHAT A SAVE FROM CARRIZO! He gets low to deny Mexes whose header looked too good to stop. And he holds on to the ball too to avoid the prowling Milan strikers chasing the rebound!
    • 64' ROBINHO SHOT CLEARED OFF THE LIN! MILAN THINK THEY SCORED! He was played in by Ibrahimovic and his shot lacked power, but with the keeper beaten it was all on Marchese to stop it, and he did - just!
    • 57' CATANIA LEVEL! SPOLLI SCORES! And it's nothing less than they deserved. It was far from pretty but Legrottaglie got the first header on it and Spolli bundled it over from a couple of yards.
    • 49' CATANIA CLOSE AGAIN! Desperate block from Antonini and that had echoes of the midweek display of defending against Barcelona.
    • 47' CATANIA GOAL DISALLOWED! Hard to see exactly why as the cross comes in from the right from Bergessio and Gomez nods in. That is a bitter blow for the home side.
    • 37' SHOT FROM GOMEZ! HITS THE BAR! He fires from just outside the box and leaves Abbiati for dead, but the woodwork comes to Milan's rescue.
    • 34' GOAL! ROBINHO PUTS MILAN IN FRONT! That's where class tells. The Brazilian gets on the end of a return pass from Ibrahimovic after the Swede had shown strength to hold up the ball, and then buries the finish.
    • 21' CATANIA CLOSE! The home side very nearly take the lead after a flowing move ends with a header narrowly over the bar from Bergessio! They've more than held their own so far.

Team Line-up & Ratings

  • Catania

    Manager: Vincenzo Montella

  • AC Milan

    Manager: Massimiliano Allegri

  • Line-up

    Live Team Line-Up

  • Rate Players

    Rate Players

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    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      6.9 -
      Defenders
      5.9 -
      6.6 -
      Goal 7 -
      6.4 -
      Midfielders
      6.4 -
      6.2 -
      Substitution Out90′ 6.5 -
      Strikers
      Substitution Out85′ 6.4 -
      Substitution Out71′ 5.9 -
      6.4 -
      Subs
      Substitution In85′ 6.6 -
      Substitution In71′ 6.1 -
      Substitution In90′ 6.5 -
    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      5.3 -
      Defenders
      5.5 -
      5.2 -
      Yellow Card 5 -
      5.4 -
      Midfielders
      Yellow Card 5.3 -
      Substitution Out85′ 4.7 -
      5 -
      Substitution Out52′ 4.4 -
      Strikers
      5.4 -
      Goal Substitution Out73′ 5.6 -
      Subs
      Substitution In85′ 4.7 -
      Substitution In52′ 5.2 -
      Substitution In73′ 6.3 -