Paolo Maldini’s final match in front of the San Siro crowd ended in disappointment as AS Roma stunned AC Milan 3-2 on Sunday.

Maldini was making his last appearance in the red and black Milan shirt in front of his home fans but Francesco Totti’s late free-kick pooped the party for the 40-year-old veteran, who made his debut for the club in 1985 as a 16-year-old.

And despite Massimo Ambrosini’s brace in the final quarter of an hour, Roma snatched a vital three points that secured them a place in next season’s Europa League. The result didn’t do anything, though, to stop Milan’s fans paying homage to a player who has graced the San Siro pitch for 24 years.

No-one left the building as Maldini performed a lap of honour to rousing applause, although a small minority spoiled the atmosphere by chanting slogans against Maldini. Even so, coach Carlo Ancelotti, who may too leave Milan at the end of the season, said it did nothing to detract from the generally generous reception the club captain received.

“A small minority protested against certain things he did. It was a drop in an ocean full of affection and passion, hence insignificant,” he said before deflection talk of his own future.

“Today there’s no reason to talk about that because we’re still playing (there’s one more match to play).

“We have a week to prepare well. Hence we will talk about all this after Florence (Milan’s last game is away to Fiorentina).”

The hosts had the first clear chance of the game just before the half hour mark as Pato was sent clean through down the inside left channel. He opened up his body and brought the ball back onto his right foot to try to curl the ball around Roma goalkeeper Artur but the Brazilian got the slightest touch to deflect it wide.

Maldini San Siro Swansong Turns Sour With Roma Defeat … read more »

Lazio beat Sampdoria 6-5 on penalties following a 1-1 draw to win the Italian Cup at the Stadio Olimpico here on Wednesday and qualify for next season’s Europa League.

Lazio goalkeeper Nestor Muslera saved two penalties in the shoot-out, which went to sudden death after both teams missed one each of their first five.

Frenchman Ousmane Dabo scored the winning penalty after Hugo Campagnaro had seen his shot saved. Argentine forward Mauro Zarate had given Lazio a fourth minute lead but Giampaolo Pazzini equalised just past the half hour mark.

Lazio were off to a flying start when Zarate lashed a wonder strike past Luca Castellazzi from outside the area on four minutes. Lazio were in the ascendancy for the first half hour and should have doubled their advantage on 28 minutes.

Castellazzi spilled a long range strike from Aleksandar Kolarov and Macedonia forward Goran Pandev was there to mop up the loose ball but Castellazzi redeemed himself by crucially making a close-range block.

The importance of that save was evident three minutes later as Sampdoria equalised through Pazzini. Antonio Cassano sent a deep cross over from the left to Lithuanian Marius Stankevicius at the back post and his header across goal was diverted in by Pazzini.

Sampdoria came close on the stroke of half-time but Muslera tipped over Cassano’s fierce free-kick.

On the hour, it was Lazio who threatened again but the late arriving Pasquale Foggia couldn’t control his volley from Pandev’s cross.

Both sides then failed to create anything significant for the remaining half hour and even less so in the 30 minutes of extra-time.

Penalties would separate the sides and Muslera made a good start saving from Cassano.

Lazio’s advantage was wiped out when Tommaso Rocchi hit the post and saw the ball run across the face of goal and away to safety.

But then in sudden death Muslera saved from Campagnaro and Dabo stepped up to stroke home the ball and claim the cup.

Juventus reacted with fury on Tuesday after Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho implied the club received favourable treatment from referees.

Mourinho made the comments at a press conference which saw him allude to the controversy which ensued following the Serie A leaders’ 3-3 draw with AS Roma – a match in which his men recovered to bag a point with the aid of a contested spot kick.

Mario Balotelli netted the penalty but Roma boss Luciano Spalletti was livid and accused Balotelli of diving.

Juventus coach Claudio Ranieri – like Mourinho a former Chelsea coach – saw fit to back Spalletti and that angered the Inter coach, who promptly insinuated that Juve received preferential treatment from referees.

“While Ranieri says he is behind Spalletti, I am on the side of coaches who have dropped points against Juve – and also on the side of those who are going to meet Juve in the coming weeks,” Mourino said ahead of Wednesday’s Italian Cup semi-final meeting with Sampdoria.

Juve Furious Amid Mourinho Claims Of Ref Favours … read more »

AC Milan want to extend former England captain David Beckham’s loan period from Los Angeles Galaxy till the end of the season the Italian club’s vice-president Adriano Galliani said on Monday.

Beckham, 33, is meant to return to the American club on March 9 but AC Milan have been trying desperately to either buy him – which they failed with what was termed by the Americans as a ridiculous offer of 3million dollars – or extend his loan after impressing since he arrived.

“I hope I succeed in sorting it out that he stays till June 30,” Galliani told the club’s television station.

“After that he can go back to Los Angeles, before returning to us next January (Beckham will cost nothing come November 30).

“That is what we are trying to do. It is complicated as we always knew it would be, but we are still trying.”

Beckham is keen to stay with Milan as he believes the higher level of competition helps his chances of figuring regularly in England coach Fabio Capello’s plans and should England qualify making it to a fourth successive World Cup finals next year.

Lazio president Claudio Lotito is very happy after his team obtained another three points by beating Bologna. “Zarate unblocked himself and now I’m convinced that also the team will start again with the same rhythm of the start of the season,” explained the Biancocelesti president.

“We dominated, this team has great quality and I saw a nice flow in our game. A coherent environment has been created inside the dressing room.”