QUOTE
Milan took third place in the Moscow Tournament on penalties after a 3-3 draw with Lokomotiv Moscow.
The tie was eventually decided on spot-kicks – just as their first encounter of this competition with PSV Eindhoven earlier this week – but this time the Rossoneri emerged 8-7 winners.
Once again Carlo Ancelotti’s men were clearly tired from their pre-season training regime and almost disinterested in the game during the first hour.
Lokomotiv Moscow were given a helping hand to take the lead, as Dario Simic accidentally nodded the ball into his own net past the stranded Zeljko Kalac.
Kaka was the liveliest of his squad and managed to draw level, beating former Roma goalkeeper Ivan Pelizzoli with a solo effort sparked by Cristian Brocchi.
However, before the break the Russians were able to score another couple of goals through Ivanovic and Odemwingie left totally unmarked.
Kalac also made way for Nelson Dida after taking a knock to his right ankle during the first half, while Willy Aubameyang – the only striker at Ancelotti’s disposal – missed at least two sitters.
Milan fought back with a late flurry of goals to make it 3-3 practically on the final whistle, when the tactics had been reshuffled so much that Marcos Cafu was playing upfront!
Clarence Seedorf gave his teammates hope and 90 seconds later Brocchi sealed the six-goal thriller, both goals set up by Marek Jankulovski.
So for the second time in this tournament, it went to penalties. Massimo Oddo, Jankulovski, Andrea Pirlo, Alessandro Nesta and Brocchi all successfully converted their kicks, but Dida’s one save on Kontsadelov proved decisive.