AC Milan’s early season woes worsened on Wednesday after losing 1-0 at home to FC Zurich in the Champions League.
Already sitting below halfway in the Serie A standings, Milan conceded a 10th-minute goal to Zurich captain Hannu Tihinen at the San Siro and couldn’t find a way to equalize against a team playing in Europe’s premier club competition for the first time.
The Finnish defender backheeled the ball in from a corner at the near post past goalkeeper Marco Storari.
PHOTO: AFP
Milan had numerous efforts on goal, including four by Filippo Inzaghi, but Zurich goalkeeper Leoni was too good.
Zurich had opportunities to increase their lead in the first half, but spent much of the second period playing on the counterattack.
“Obviously, I am very happy to win here in Milan. It is an historic result for us as they are a great team,” Zurich coach Bernard Challandes said. “We were a bit lucky in the second half because Milan put us under a lot of pressure, but we worked hard and deserved the win.”
“We knew Milan would attack from the first minute, and we had to maintain out concentration as we knew they could play aggressive football. We held our defensive line and now we can take these three points back home with us,” he said.
“To concede a goal like that after 10 minutes complicates things,” Milan coach Leonardo said. “We played the way we always played and are used to, but tonight it didn’t work.”
The hosts should have been level in the 15th minute. Clarence Seedorf slipped the ball behind the defense to Marek Jankulovski, who crossed low to Inzaghi but the veteran striker hooked his shot wide.
Inzaghi, chasing his 69th and record-equaling goal in European competitions, went close once more in the 28th, but he headed Abate’s cross narrowly wide as Milan repeatedly lacked the finishing touch.
“We aren’t a very confident team at the moment,” Leonardo said.
“It is a collective thing, not an individual one. If you think about tonight’s result it doesn’t give you a lot of hope, but two weeks ago with the same team we beat Marseilles 2-1,” he said.
Just on halftime, Zurich nearly doubled its lead. Milan Gajic made space and shot from distance, but Storari managed to push the ball away for a corner.
It was Inzaghi who had the first clear chance of the second period. Andrea Pirlo swung in a free kick, and the 36 year-old Inzaghi’s header forced Leoni into an acrobatic save.
Alexandre Pato should have brought Milan level in the 64th.
Substitute Ronaldinho found him in space behind Zurich’s defense, but the young striker chipped the ball over Leoni and wide of the far post.
A minute later, Leoni again denied Inzaghi a goal. Jankulovski pulled the ball back from going out, but Inzaghi shot straight at the ’keeper from close range.
From the counterattack, Zurich’s Xavier Margairaz forced Storari into a desperate save with his feet after breaking through the Milan defense.
With the clock running down, Milan still had two more chance to salvage a point. From the edge of the area, captain Massimo Ambrosini drilled a low shot wide, and then substitute Gianluca Zambrotta fired an effort against the post.
“At halftime, we said we had to maintain our concentration as we knew Milan would come out to attack,” Challandes said. “They showed in the last few minutes how close they could go.”
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