Monday, September 28, 2009

AC Milan 0-0 Bari


Marco Storari saved AC Milan from yet another embarrassing defeat as they only just managed to hold a lively Bari to a goalless draw.

The Apulian side attacked from start to finish and will wonder how they did not manage to come away from Milan with all three points as the Rossoneri once again disappointed in front of their own fans, who let their feelings known at the final whistle.

The draw leaves Leonardo's men seven points behind league leaders Sampdoria in the wrong half of the table with Bari just one point further behind.

Bari, on their second trip to the San Siro this season after losing narrowly to Inter Milan, showed absolutely no fear of their opponents.

They did not show much respect either as they dominated from start to finish, only missing out on victory due to the heroics of Milan goalkeeper Marco Storari.

Emanuel Rivas had the first chance for Bari in the 29th minute when he skipped past Alessandro Nesta, Kakha Kaladze and Ignazio Abate, leaving all three Milan defenders on the floor before aiming for the top right-hand corner of Storari's goal, but sending his shot wide.

Edgar Alvarez did beat Storari on the half-hour mark, but Nesta was in behind him to head the ball clear.

Storari made another stunning save to deny Leonardo Bonucci, whose powerful header from a corner was heading into the roof of the net but for the Milan goalkeeper's incredible reaction save.

Bari's confidence levels rose with Alvarez trying to lob Storari from 30 yards, but also clearing the crossbar just before half time.

Vitaliy Kutuzov shot wide after the lively Alvarez had found him with one of his regular incursions from the right wing in the 51st minute and only then did the home side awake.

Andrea Pirlo's free-kick was only pushed away by Jean-Francois Gillet and Ronaldinho followed up to head the loose ball onto the crossbar, albeit from an offside position.

The Rossoneri's best chance of the game followed in the 59th minute when Alexandre Pato pulled the ball back for Ronaldinho, whose 20-yard shot took a deflection which made Gillet's save all the more remarkable.

But that as just a rare moment of danger for Gillet, who otherwise had a quiet evening.

Storari, on the other hand, was always at the centre of the action and he had to make another crucial save to deny Rivas before Alvarez slid the ball to Kutuzov, who should have done better from 15 yards out.

Salvatore Masiello was next to test Storari before Bari substitute Riccardo Meggiorini missed the best chance of the game in the 77th minute.

He was put through by Paulo Barreto, but was denied by Storari's leg from giving Bari a deserved win.

The Milan fans jeered their side off the field at the final whistle after witnessing another disappointing performance from a side which has won just two of its opening six league games.

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