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Disciplined Milan End Deportivo's Unbeaten Run
The Italian side won the second phase group B match 1-0. Deportivo took the game to Milan in the opening minutes and Turu Flores and Djalminha saw shots drift just wide. Victor and Turu Flores looked threatening on the flanks and Brazilian pairing Emerson and Mauro Silva controlled the midfield. But after a slow start Milan gradually forced their way into the game. The terrier-like Gennaro Gattuso snapped at the heels of the Deportivo players and made life uncomfortable for lone attacker Diego Tristan. After 18 minutes Turu Flores unleashed a thunderbolt shot from 35 metres that went just wide. Milan responded four minutes later when Jose Mari darted into the area and set up Zvonomir Boban but the Croatian skied the ball over the bar. Deportivo then spurned a golden opportunity to take the lead. Djalminha jinked past three defenders and threaded a neat ball through to Tristan. He cut the ball back to the Brazilian but he shot straight at Roque Junior, the only defender protecting the goal. Deportivo began to lose patience as the experienced Milan defence, directed impeccably by Paulo Maldini and Christian Costacurta, constantly frustrated the home side's attacks and played the offside trap to perfection. Just as the players were anticipating the halftime whistle Milan delivered a hammer blow to the Spanish champions' morale. As the ball was half cleared from a corner Thomas Helveg popped up on the edge of the area and drilled the ball under Jose Molina to give the Italians the lead. Deportivo threw caution to the wind after the break, bringing on Walter Scaloni and Dutch international Roy Makaay to strengthen the attack. But Milan soaked up the pressure and looked dangerous on the break with Andriy Shevchenko going close on several occasions. Deportivo's only noteworthy, second half opportunity came when a Djalminha free kick was tipped over by Christian Abbiati after 71 minutes.
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Soccer
