By Anna Italia
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@ItalianSerieA
56% Ball Possession AC MILAN and 44% Ball Possession CHIEVO VERONA
AC Milan 3 – 0 Chievo Verona 
4′ Mario Balotelli
27′ Kaka’
54′ Kaka’
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Serie A Standing BEFORE the game:
AC Milan, 12th position with 39 points and a positive goal difference of +1
Chievo Verona, 27 points and a negative goal difference of -17
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | Goals | Diff. | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | Milan | 30 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 44:43 | 1 | 39 |
| 16 | Chievo | 30 | 7 | 6 | 17 | 26:43 | -17 | 27 |
Disciplinary Situation: 2 suspended players for AC MILAN: 5 Mexes (1), 21 Constant (1)
1 suspended player for CHIEVO VERONA: Rigoni (1)
Mission accomplished for AC Milan coach Clarence Seedorf. Pressure was for Milan to win the home game to climb the Serie A Table hoping for a miracle to make it in the top 6. Chievo succumbing to the pressure to win the away game to avoid falling in the relegation zone. Chievo have lost their last 4 away games without scoring. It’s a great victory for AC Milan considering their last 2 consecutive home defeats. Stats remaining in favor of Milan because Chievo, previously defeating Milan twice, have never defeated Milan in San Siro. Magic moment for AC Milan Kaka’ celebrating his 300th game with Milan by scoring 2 goals and being also Captain today.
AC Milan opening the score following a corner conceded by Chievo Verona defender Alessandro Bernardini. It is Milan defender Adil Rami to provide the assist to forward Mario Balotelli for the goal defeating goalkeeper Michael Agazzi in the high center. This is the 13th goal this season for Balotelli. It’s an interesting goal for Balotelli because he had scored 3 goals against Chievo while playing for Inter, but this is his first goal against Chievo since playing for AC Milan. I can visualize Crudelli shouting this goal with his “Balo, Balo, Telli, Telli…..”
What a perfect way for Kaka’ to celebrate his 300th game in Serie A as an AC Milan player! Yep, Kaka scoring in the 27th minute. A cross by midfielder Keisuke Honda to Kaka’ making time to accommodate the ball with the chest to defeat with a right footed shot goalkeeper Agazzi from close range in the bottom right corner. This is the 6th goal for Kaka’ this season, curiously Kaka’ scoring 5 of these goals in San Siro! Surely, you bet, the fans chanting “Siam venuti fin qua’ per vedere segnare Kaka’ oh oh oh”
Kaka’ celebrating after his goal against Chievo Verona
Milan closer to the third goal in the 38th minute with midfielder Honda missing the target after the assist by Balotelli. Honda deliverin his left footed shot way to high!!!
Ooops.. problem for AC Milan seeing midfielder Sulley Muntari injured making the first forced substitution in the 44th minute. Muntari is replaced by midfielder Michael Essien.
First half ending 53% ball possession AC Milan and 47% ball possession Chievo Verona
There you go, time for the fans to chant again in San Siro “Siam venuti fin qua per vedere segnare Kaka…….” It’s a magic game for Kaka’ scoring another goal in the 54th minute after the assist by defender Urby Emanuelson. Nothing to do for goalkeeper Agazzi, but defeated by Kaka’ with a right footed shot in the top right corner. It’s the 7th goal for Kaka this season. It is also the 11th brace for Kaka in Serie A… way to go.
The joy of Kaka’ after his second goal against Chievo.
In the 60th minute, Milan replacing midfielder Andrea Poli with midfielder Nigel de Jong.
Chievo making a substitution in the 63rd minute replacing forward Cyril Thereau with forward Victor Obinna.
Emanuelson missing target in the 70th minute after his left footed shot goes high to the left.
AC Milan coach Clarence Seedorf making the last substitution of the match replacing Kaka’ in the 74th minute with forward Robinho. The fans embracing beloved Kaka’ while he thanks them back on his way out of the pitch.
Chievo replacing midfielder Perparim Hetemaj with midfielder Tiberio Guarente in the 77th minute.
In the 91st minute Referee Giacomelli granting a penalty to Chievo conceded by Milan defender Cristian Zaccardo after a foul on forward Cyril Thereau. Now, the U N T H I N K A B L E!!!!! Thereau failing to convert this penalty because his right footed shot hits the bar!!!!!!
Nothing to do, but stats remaining in favor of AC Milan and a disappointed Chievo unable to score, at least, the honor goal.
Game ending 56% ball possession AC Milan and 44% ball possession Chievo.
Here is AC MILAN official starting lineup by coach Clarence Seedorf:
AC MILAN (4-2-3-1): Abbiati; Bonera, Zaccardo, Rami, Emanuelson; de Jong, Muntari; Honda, Kakà, Taarabt; Balotelli.
Here is CHIEVO VERONA official starting lineup by coach Eugenio Corini:
CHIEVO VERONA (5-3-2): Agazzi; Sardo, Frey, Dainelli, Bernardini, Dramé; Bentivoglio, Radovanović, Hetemaj; Obinna, Paloschi.
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Stats AFTER the game. Top scorer for AC MILAN: Forward Mario Balotelli with 13 goals
Top scorer for CHIEVO VERONA: Forward Alberto Paloschi with 10 goals
| AC Milan | Goals | Goals | Chievo Verona |
|---|---|---|---|
| Balotelli, Mario | 13 | 10 | Paloschi, Alberto |
| Kaka | 7 | 5 | Thereau, Cyril |
| Muntari, Sulley | 4 | 4 | Rigoni, Luca |
| Rami, Adil | 3 | 1 | Lazarevic, Dejan |
| Robinho | 3 | 1 | Bentivoglio, Simone |
Here are the last 3 games of AC MILAN: 1 win, 1 draw, 1 lost
| 26/03/14 | SA | Fiorentina – Milan |
0:2 | Round 30 |
| 23/03/14 | SA | Lazio – Milan |
1:1 | Round 29 |
| 16/03/14 | SA | Milan – Parma |
2:4 | Round 28 |
Here are the last 3 games of CHIEVO VERONA: 1 win, 2 lost
| 26/03/14 | SA | Chievo – Bologna |
3:0 | Round 30 |
| 22/03/14 | SA | Chievo – Roma |
0:2 | Round 29 |
| 16/03/14 | SA | Fiorentina – Chievo |
3:1 | Round 28 |
Click the video to watch the highlights of the game, AC MILAN vs CHIEVO VERONA, Saturday 29 March 2014, San Siro Stadium, Milan, Italy, Serie A Week 31
Click the video to watch the commentaries from DIRETTA STADIO by Tiziano Crudelli on Milan – Chievo.
AC Milan vs Chievo Verona photos courtesy of acmilan.com
AC Milan coach Clarence Seedorf giving “Thumbs Up” to forward Mario Balotelli after the opening goal against Chievo Verona.
AC Milan players congratulating forward Mario Balotelli after the goal
Well done…… Seedorf applauding the reaction of the squad.
Italian Serie A Week 31
AC Milan 3 – 0 Chievo Verona
Saturday 29 March 2014
San Siro Stadium
Milan, Italy
20:45
Referee: GIACOMELLI
Assistants: VUOTO – LIBERTI
Fourth Official: BIANCHI
ADD1: MAZZOLENI
ADD2: IRRATI
Goals: 4′ Mario Balotelli (M), 27′ Kaka’ (M), 54′ Kaka’ (M)
Official formations – lineups:
AC MILAN (4-2-3-1): Abbiati; Bonera, Zaccardo, Rami, Emanuelson; de Jong, Muntari; Honda, Kakà, Taarabt; Balotelli.
Subs: Amelia, Coppola, Silvestre, Zapata, Birsa, Essien, Poli, Saponara, Pazzini, Robinho.
Coach: Clarence Seedorf.
CHIEVO VERONA (5-3-2): Agazzi; Sardo, Frey, Dainelli, Bernardini, Dramé; Bentivoglio, Radovanović, Hetemaj; Obinna, Paloschi.
Subs: Puggioni, Squizzi, Do Santos, Canini, Kupisz, Lazarevic, Cesar, Paredes, Guarente, Stoian, Pellissier, Thereau.
Coach: EugenioCorini.
|
20:45 Referee: GIACOMELLI |
||
| AC Milan |
Match Stats |
Chievo Verona |
| 3 | Goals | 0 |
| 17(5) | Shots (on goal) | 8(1) |
| 16 | Fouls | 11 |
| 11 | Corner kicks | 4 |
| 0 | Offsides | 1 |
| 56% | Ball Possession | 44% |
| 0 | Yellow Cards | 0 |
| 0 | Red Cards | 0 |
| 1 | Saves | 2 |
What do you think of the results? Which players surprised you or disappointed you and why?