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In the 18th round of the Central Italy "Serie A" championship, on Sunday evening, the country's vice-champion "Milan" met with the "Parma" club and after a fluctuating and productive battle, characterized by more defensive errors than beautiful play, they won with a score of 4-3.
4 - 3 24` [0 - 1] Paolo Cannavaro 27` [1 - 1] Giuseppe Cardone (own goal) 29` [2 - 1] Alberto Gilardino 36` [3 - 1] Kaka 70` [3 - 2] Marco Marchionni 81` [4 - 2] Andriy Shevchenko 85` [4 - 3] Marco Marchionni
At the beginning of the match, the hosts failed to capitalize on several opportunities to score, and the visitors, taking advantage of a rough error by goalkeeper Dida, surged ahead. Milan's goalkeeper failed to catch the ball after a corner, and the first defender to rush to it, Paolo Cannavaro, scored a goal from a few meters away.
However, soon after, "Parma" made a mistake and the score became even - Brazilian Kaka tried to make a pass to a teammate and opponent's captain Giuseppe Cardone unintentionally redirected the ball into the goal. Just two minutes later, "Milan" surged ahead when former "Parma" attacking leader Alberto Gilardino headed the ball into the net in a counterattack.
In the 36th minute, "Parma" defended against a shot from Andriy Shevchenko, but the first to the ball, Kaka, shot accurately and as the match approached halftime, increased his team's lead to two goals. The first half ended with Milan leading 3-1.
In the second half, "Milan" completely took the initiative, but "Parma" scored a goal in the 70th minute: 18-year-old Daniele Dessena, who appeared on the field as a substitute, passed the ball to Marco Marchionni, who scored his second goal with a weak shot and revived hopes of at least getting a point.
However, the home team coach Carlo Ancelotti also had his aces up his sleeve and brought in experienced Rui Costa, who immediately started creating opportunities for his teammates and finally scored with an assist in the 81st minute, when after his pass, the ball was sent into the net by A. Shevchenko.
It seemed like this should have secured a victory for "Milan," but three minutes later "Parma" regained hope. The home team's defense was once again breached by M. Marchionni, who broke into the penalty area and although Dida touched the ball he shot, the shot was strong enough to disarm the goalkeeper for the third time.
In the nervous end of the match, "Parma" attacked seeking a draw. In the final minute in the penalty area, after a collision with Alessandro Nesta, the visitors' forward Bernardo Corradi fell, but referee Paolo Mazzoleni did not hesitate to award a penalty kick, and shortly after, for protesting, he removed "Parma" coach Mario Berretta from the field.
"Milan" won and returned to the second position in the league table, overtaking city neighbor "Inter," but the defensive play should certainly not please coach Carlo Ancelotti - if we exclude the "away" derby against "Inter" in December and the inconclusive last matches of the previous season against "Palermo", this was the first time since March 2003 when at home the "Rossoneri" conceded three goals.
