Pippo's Birthday Present

Pippo Inzaghi gave a packed crowd at San Siro a wonderful gift as he scored his 24th goal in Champions League or his 53th in all European competitions when Milan met Crvena Zvezda (Red Star Belgrade) in the first leg of their Champions League third qualifying round tie. The goal was also special because Pippo celebrated his birthday last night.
Milan's participation in this year's Champions League was followed by so many controversies after Milan have been found guilty of match fixing scandal or known as Calciopoli, but this could not stopped the boys from getting the job done.

Coach Carlo Ancelotti had called for possession football but his players adopted an adventurous approach against the Serbian champions, with Clarence Seedorf, Alberto Gilardino, Kaká and Inzaghi all wasting good chances.

Inzaghi scored on the 21st minute when Kaká found him unmarked with a superb pass, the veteran striker then slotted pass the keeper Ivan Randjelović to put Milan ahead. He could have added his tally but wasted a number of good chances. Most of the time Milan were able to put the visitors at bay outside their penalty area. Dida only had to make two saves, stopping the header from Nikola Žigić which gone straight at him and Blagoy Georgiev early on.
Red Star will need to show more enterprise in the second leg in Belgrade on 22 August, while Milan, undoubtedly the better side on the night, will hope they are not left bemoaning tonight's missed chances by the end of the tie.

Milan: Dida; Cafu (Brocchi 79), Simic, Costacurta, Serginho; Gattuso, Pirlo (Gourcuff 81), Seedorf, Kaka; Inzaghi, Gilardino (Ambrosini 72)

Red Star Belgrade (Crvena Zvezda): Randelovic; Pantic, Bisevac, Gaj, Perovic (Tutoric 66); Basta, Kovacevic, Milovanovic (Dokic 81), Blagoy; Jankovic (Krivokapic 89); Zigic