I travelled to Milan to watch Gambrinus Liga Champions Viktoria Plzeň take on 7 times European Champions AC Milan – it was a special occasion for Plzeň and their fans.
Viktoria Plzeň went down fighting as they succumbed to AC Milan 2-0 at Stadio San Siro – goals from Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Antonio Cassano sealed the victory for the Rossoneri.
The Czech champions gave a heroic first half performance; they absorbed Milan’s best punches and threw a few back of their own.
Plzeň showed some early nerves but they soon found their feet as Václav Pilař beat Abate and delivered the ball onto the head of Bakos, the whole stadium drew their breathe as Abbiata pushed the ball around the Milan post with the game just two minutes old.
Plzeň were growing in confidence and were enjoying a good spell of possession, long range efforts from Horváth and Jiracek made the natives restless and the 4000 Plzeň fans were cheering every pass.
But the Rossoineri showed their class when a cross field ball found Ibrahimovic, who had time to control and force a world class save from Cech just 6 yards from goal. Moments later after a delightful passage of play from Plzeň, Horváth hit his first time shot around the post which should have at least hit the target.
The German referee blew for half time amid a torrent of whistles from the 60,000 Italians in the stands, as they were frustrated with their teams level of performance.
With barely 10 minutes gone in the second half, the Rossineri were handed a lifeline as Marian Čišovský handled inside the box, it was unfortunate as Čišovský couldn’t do much about it. Zlatan Ibrahimovic stepped up and put the Italians one nil up with a clinical finish.
The giant Swedish striker was showing flashes of brilliance as his Milan team mates were finding him with ease. With his reach as long as a chimney sweep, Zlatan plucked the ball out of the air and played in strike partner Cassano who delicately chipped Marek Cech to make it 2-0.
Viktoria Plzeň played with courage and confidence, the 2-0 score line doesn’t do the Czech champions justice. “I’m sad because we could have had a better result. On the other hand, I am pleased that we created chances. The players did best, and I thank them for that.” said Plzeň coach Pavel Vrba, who also paid tribute to AC Milan star Ibrahimovic “AC Milan were lucky he was healed in time. Zlatan was the player who surpassed all the players on the pitch and decided the game.”
Captain Pavel Horváth was left to rue his missed chance just before half time with the score still level “I was a little surprised that I received the ball, but this does not change the fact that I missed the target. It was a huge chance; it was probably the decisive moment.”
AC Milan midfielder Urby Emanuelson admitted that Plzeň were more than a handful “The first half was tough, they caused us problems, but in the second half they got tired and we played better.”
Lionel Messi and Barcelona are up next for Viktoria Plzeň on Wednesday 19 October at the Nou Camp, Barcelona.
Comments are closed.