Ronaldinho and Pato Down AS Roma at the San Siro

AC Milan hadn’t managed a win for over a month and the pressure on the team (and coach Leonardo in particular) were building up as they played hosts to AS Roma on Sunday night.

The Brazilian tactician has been in the hot seat ever since the humiliating 4-0 derby defeat to city rivals Inter Milan and has been living on borrowed time since then.

Roma had experienced an upsurge since Claudia Ranieri took over the post after Luciano Spalletti. The Giallorossi were undefeated under the Tinkerman as they travelled to the San Siro for one of week eight’s most high-profile clashes.

However, the visitors received a major blow ahead of the game as prolific striker Francesco Totti failed to make the trip to Milan.

First half

An inspiring Roma broke the deadlock only three minutes into the game in front of an half-empty San Siro.  Jeremy Menez collected a sloppy back pass and skipped past his marker to put the ball away behind Dida in the Milan goal and silenced the scattered crowd around the stadium.

The Frenchman followed up shortly with another shot but saw his effort saved with the minimum of fuss by the Brazilian keeper.

While Roma were showcasing the same kind of confidence that had taken them from rock bottom to eight place in the table, Milan were looking shell-shocked from having conceded such an early goal.

The home side was slowly growing into the game and after 15 minutes of play, Leonardo’s men were awarded a free kick in Roma’s half after Marco Cassetti fouled Alexandro Pato. Andrea Pirlo’s ensuing delivery was, however, dealt with comfortably by Doni in the Roma goal.

Ten minutes later the visitors should have been awarded a penalty as Thiago Silva clearly tugged on Menez’s shirt as the Frenchman made his way towards the six-yard box, where he only managed a weak shot as he tried to stay on his feet and saw his effort hit the side nettings.

Milan were enjoying a lion’s share of possession around the half hour mark but failed to maintain in the final third. The Rossoneri were piling up the pressure but failed to create anything of distinctive nature.

In any case, the visitors defended admirably and also created most of the dangers as they looked threatening each time they went on the counter.

Shortly after midfield, warrior Daniele De Rossi missed a glorious opportunity to extend his side’s lead as his long-range effort was tipped just wide of the far post by Dida.

On 38 minutes, Mirko Vucinic should have scored after being played through beautifully by Menez. The Montenegrin managed to skip between two defenders but took too long before shooting straight at Dida.

Instead, Milan had a golden opportunity as they went on the counter, but Clarence Seedorf’s shot was knocked into the post by Doni and the ball fell to Massimo Ambrosini who somehow managed to shoot high over the crossbar from close range.

Second half

After the interval, Leonardo opted to take out Ignazio Abate and introduce Filippo Inzaghi in his place. The home side was extremely close to canceling out Roma’s lead only two minutes into the second half, as the poacher’s header on a Andrea Pirlo corner kick was cleared off the line by Claudio Pizarro.

Milan was handed a dubious penalty around the hour mark as Nicolas Burdisso made a harsh challenge on Alessandro Nesta, but replays clearly shows that the Argentine won the ball. Despite going the right way, Doni could do nothing to stop Ronaldinho’s well placed spot kick and suddenly all was square.

As Roma were going on the counter 10 minutes later, Rodrigo Taddei read an upcoming challenge from Ambrosini and simply stepped aside to avoid the sliding tackle.

Despite zero contact, the home side was awarded a free kick from Rosetti to the amazement of the winger.

The ensuing free kick was received by Ronaldinho, who skipped past three defenders and passed a glorious ball to Pato who chested the ball down before running past John-Arne Riise, rounding Doni and finally slotting in 2-1 into the back of the net.

Ranieri made a double switch with 20 minutes to go by taking off a disappointing Vucinic and Taddei for Stefano Okaka and Stefano Guberti. The Tinkerman then followed up minutes later with his third and final switch for the night by introducing Julio Baptista for the injured Menez.

De Rossi had a golden chance to score the equalizer 15 minutes from time but blasted his close shot high over the crossbar. The visiting side was given new hope five minutes later as Ambrosini received his second booking of the evening and left the Rossoneri down to ten men.    

Despite the opponents being one man down the Giallorossi failed to capitalize from the numerical advantage and collected their first defeat under Ranieri.

The Rossoneri, on the other hand, recorded a much-needed victory  (and morale boost )– ahead of their important upcoming midweek Champions League clash against Spanish giants, Real Madrid.

AC Milan – AS Roma 2-1

0-1   (3) Menez, 1-1 (56) Ronaldinho (penalty), 2-1 (67) Pato

AC Milan: Dida; Oddo, Nesta, Thiago Silva, Zambrotta; Abate (Inzaghi 46), Pirlo, Ambrosini, Seedorf; Pato, Ronaldinho (Flamini 83)

AS Roma: Doni; Cassetti, Mexes, Burdisso, Riise; Taddei (Guberti 71), De Rossi, Pizarro, Perrotta; Menez (Julio Baptista 75), Vucinic (Okaka 72)

Sent off: Ambrosini (81), Milan

Referee: Rosetti