[歐冠] Dazzling Depor ditch Milan
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Dazzling Depor ditch Milan
Wednesday, 07 April 2004
By Graham Hunter at the Riazor
RC Deportivo La Coruna made history on Wednesday by becoming the first
side to overcome a three-goal first-leg deficit in the UEFA Champions
League as they defeated the holders AC Milan 4-0 to seal a staggering
5-4 aggregate victory.
Milan overwhelmed
Goals from Walter Pandiani, Juan Carlos Valeron, Alberto Luque and Fran
added to this week of Champions League shocks as Milan were overwhelmed
by the Spanish club, who reached the semi-finals for the first time in
spectacular fashion.
Tomasson chance
Deportivo had promised to go after the reigning champions like a hurricane
from the first whistle and they were true to their word, although it was
the visitors who had the first clear-cut chance. Jon Dahl Tomasson,
starting in place of Filippo Inzaghi, might have settled the tie on four
minutes but his gentle volley was parried by grateful goalkeeper Jose Molina.
Pandiani opener
Less than a minute later, the Primera Division team's comeback was under
way. Pandiani, the author of Deportivo's most famous European fightback
when they recovered from 3-0 down to defeat Paris Saint-Germain FC 4-3 in
2001 thanks to the Uruguayan's hat-trick, swivelled on a left-wing cross,
turned Paolo Maldini and shot through the Italian's legs to beat Dida.
The strike signalled a total onslaught on the Milan goal and a deluge of
chances for the irresistible Galicians.
Victor instrumental
Although he was not among the three first-half goalscorers, it was Victor
Sanchez who most tormented Carlo Ancelotti's side. Throughout the first
45 minutes he was simply brilliant, going close to scoring twice and
creating a wonderful opportunity on 26 minutes. His clever one-two with
the magnificent Valeron saw the playmaker take Victor's return pass and
force Dida to save brilliantly at his post.
Molina bravery
Kaka came closest to stemming the one-way tide with a clear run at the
Deportivo defence and a one-on-one chance with Molina. The keeper held
his nerve and got to the Brazilian's effort quickly enough to send it
spinning across goal for the defence to clear. But in general, the
Serie A leaders looked sluggish in movement and thought - and unusually
shaky in their defending.
Free header
Deportivo's second goal could not have been better timed, arriving ten
minutes before half-time, just when Deportivo's pressure needed tangible
reward in order to deny Milan a route back into the match. Luque's
left-wing surge and cross soared over the mistimed lunge by Dida and
Valeron, unmarked, scored a rare header to make it 2-0.
Nesta slip
The Riazor was shaking with emotion and, incredibly, Milan seemed to shrink
in the face of such aggressive opposition. Immediately before half-time
Alessandro Nesta, who missed the first game with injury, also mistimed his
approach to a loose ball in midfield. Luque pounced on the chance like a
predator, ran 20 metres and drilled a clinical left-foot shot beyond Dida
and into the top corner for his fourth goal in nine Champions League matches.
Fran finish
Milan's attitude changed totally in the second half and they could have
taken control when Andrea Pirlo released Tomasson, who shot wide from a
clear angle. But after Ancelotti brought on Serginho for Pirlo to go to
a 4-3-1-2 formation, Fran effectively sealed Deportivo's comeback. The
substitute, who had replaced the tiring Luque, added ignominy to the
scoreline, while only changing the advantage from away goals to aggregate,
by scoring the fourth with a vicious right-foot shot which skimmed off
Cafu to beat Dida.
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