AC Milan team history today: On February 15, 2004, Ping Lecce ended a seven-game winning streak, with Milan + Sheva leading the points + scorers list
On February 15, 2004, in the 21st round of the 2003-2004 Serie A season, the Rossoneri AC Milan played away against Lecce Pepper, Sheva's long-range shot in the second half equalized for Milan, and the two teams drew 1-1.
Milan ended a seven-game winning streak in Serie A after the winter break, as Roma also drew and AC Milan remained five points clear at the top of the table. Sheva scored his 17th league goal of the season and moved well above the top scorers' charts. In the end, AC Milan won the Serie A title this season, and Sheva took away the Golden Boot.
Before the game, the players of both sides wrapped their arms in black yarn and observed a minute of silence for Pantani, a cyclist who unfortunately died suddenly. Pantani was an avid AC Milan fan.
In this game, Carlo Ancelotti reverted to the double midfield of Kaka and Rui Costa, and lined up in the classic Christmas tree formation. Kaladze replaces suspended Pankaro.
Take a look at the list of players who started and came off the bench for both teams.
AC Milan (4-3-2-1): 12-Dida, 2-Cafu, 13-Nesta, 3-Maldini, 4-Kaladze, 8-Gattuso (70th minute, 33-Brocki), 21-Pirlo, 20-Seedorf, 10-Rui Costa (46th minute, 15-Tomasson), 22-Kaka (87th minute, 27-Serginho), 7-Shevchenko.
Lecce (4-4-2): Cicignano, Sivilla, Bovo, Stovini, Tonetto, Cassetti, Bolano, Ledesma, Franceschini (Abruzzesse 79th minute), Chevanton (Vucinic 81st minute), Bodinov (57th minute, Konan).
In the first half, the home team attacked fiercely, AC Milan's control of the midfield was in question, and the teenager Kaka was a little out of shape.
In the 10th minute, Gattuso fell to the ground after being elbowed to the head by Ledersma while jumping, and the Milan tough guy went to the sideline to bandage his head and returned to the fight, but the blood still oozed from the bandages.
Milan conceded the first goal in the 19th minute, Cafu fouled Chevanton, who took a free kick from 21 meters from goal on the left side, and curled a right-footed ball over the wall into the top left corner, AC Milan fell behind 0-1. The sixth-top scorer scored his 11th league goal of the season.
In the second half, Carlo Ancelotti replaced Rui Costa with Tomasson and AC Milan changed to a 4-4-2 formation, with a strengthened Milan attacking force that tightened Lecce's back. In the 46th and 48th minutes, Bolano and Bowo received yellow cards successively.
In the 53rd minute, Maldini made a precise long pass from the backfield, Tomasson carried the defender's chest back on the edge of the penalty area, and Sheva fired a low right-footed shot from 20 meters in front of the goal, and the ball went directly into the lower left corner, and AC Milan chased the score to a 1-1 draw. It was a goal of special significance, as it was here that Sheva, who made his first Serie A debut, scored his first Serie A goal in 1999.
In the 59th minute, Tomasson induced Bovo to foul, but referee Pieri showed mercy, and Bovo, who should have been sent off with two yellows and one red, was able to stay on the field.
In the 63rd minute, the tough guy Gattuso was bleeding again on his head and had to go to the sidelines to be treated. In the 65th minute, Kaka seemed to pass and shoot from a small angle, and Cichignano took it into his arms. In the 67th minute, Milan's diagonal cross from the left caused chaos in the penalty area, Cafu volleyed with his right foot at the back post, and the ball bounced off the ground and was confiscated by Cicignano.
In the 87th minute, Maldini fouled Konan in the middle of the field and was yellow carded by Pieri, and the Milan captain was very excited, thinking that the foul in this midfield position was not enough to be yellow carded, and had a long argument with Pieri, but it still could not save the result of the suspension of the Milan derby in the next round.
After the game, AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti and general manager Galliani both expressed their dissatisfaction with the referee's decision.