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The double header on Saturday took place in the Italian "Serie A" championship - contender for the title Milan's "Inter" unexpectedly had to admit the superiority of the impressive "Palermo" in Sicily, while "Milan" secured their first season victory by defeating the "Siena" team.
20' [1 - 0] Eugenio Corini 50' [2 - 0] Christian Terlizzi 67' [3 - 0] Stephen Makinwa 85' [3 - 1] Julio Ricardo Cruz 90' [3 - 2] Julio Ricardo Cruz
In the city of Palermo, the hosts pressed their opponents from the very beginning and took the lead in the 20th minute, when Sicilian captain E. Corini scored a penalty kick, celebrating his 250th Serie A match.
In the remaining part of the first half, the "Palermo" players M. Santana and S. Makinwa didn't make use of the opportunities, while in the visitors' ranks, the opponents' goal was threatened a couple of times by the Brazilian Adriano, who scored two hat-tricks in his last two games against "Treviso" and the Chilean national team.
The second half started much like the first - "Inter" goalkeeper Julio Cesar had to work hard to save his team, first catching S. Makinwa's attempt, and later redirecting the ball into the crossbar after A. Caracciolo's shot.
After another corner, the goalkeeper blocked C. Zaccardo's shot, and C. Terlizzi accurately headed the ball into the net, doubling "Palermo's" lead. In the 67th minute, the score became overwhelming as the young S. Makinwa sent the ball into the net with his head after M. Santana's pass.
"Inter" threw all its strength into the attack and almost conceded another goal, but Julio Cesar saved M. Santana's attempt. However, with five minutes remaining, the visitors managed to score - after a pass from Adriano, J. Cruz scored from close range.
"Palermo" responded with their dangerous attack, but once again, the crossbar saved Milan's team after a powerful shot by M. Santana. In the fourth minute of added time, J. Cruz scored his second goal with a header, further reducing the scoreline and avoiding a humiliating defeat.
3 - 1 15' [1 - 0] Massimo Ambrosini 31' [2 - 0] Andriy Shevchenko 45' [2 - 1] Igor Tudor 81' [3 - 1] Ricardo Kaka
After the first championship match, where "Milan" unexpectedly played a draw with debutant "Ascoli," the country's vice-champion needed a victory. Veteran P. Maldini returned from a knee injury, while the match started with the Portuguese Rui Costa, but the disqualified C. Vieri and injured F. Inzaghi could not help their team.
The first opportunity came to the Ukrainian A. Shevchenko, whose attempt missed the goal, and A. Gilardino, who hasn't had a successful start to the season, missed a good opportunity and shot over the goal. The pressure paid off in the 15th minute, when after the combination of J. Stam and A. Shevchenko, M. Ambrosini scored with a shot from three meters.
Shevchenko himself doubled the score in the 32nd minute, scoring his 110th goal with a great shot into the top corner of the net. However, "Milan's" defense faltered after set pieces - initially Dida managed to save E. Bogdani's shot with his chest, but in the last minute of the half, goalkeeper was still beaten by I. Tudor, who scored with a header after a corner kick.
An hour passed without A. Gilardino scoring again, who confused the opponent's goalkeeper and shot towards the goal, but the defender F. Colonnese knocked the ball out of the goal line. The victory was secured for the hosts with nine minutes remaining by the Brazilian Kaka, who entered the penalty area and sent the ball into the far corner of the goal.
