2003: Boca joy as Milan pay penalty
Tuesday 1 January 2008
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Cafu (right) in action against Boca Juniors (©Getty Images)
AC Milan 1-1 CA Boca Juniors
(Boca win 3-1 on pens)
AC Milan's profligacy from the penalty spot cost them a record fourth European/South American Cup as CA Boca Juniors defeated the Italian side 3-1 in a shoot-out to win the trophy for the third time.
Juventus defeated
Milan had qualified for the annual meeting between the European and South American champions by defeating Juventus in a shoot-out in the UEFA Champions League final. But after a 1-1 draw at the International Stadium in Yokohama their luck deserted them as Andrea Pirlo, Clarence Seedorf and Alessandro Costacurta missed from the spot, allowing Alfredo Cascini to stroke in the decisive penalty.
Attacking intent
Milan, winners in 1969, 1989 and 1990, came into the game with one piece of silverware, the UEFA Super Cup, already in the San Siro trophy room. The opening exchanges were fraught but neither goalkeeper was seriously troubled until the 24th minute Jon Dahl Tomasson touched a superb, low curling pass from Pirlo under the advancing Pato to put Milan ahead. Five minutes later Boca were level. The effervescent Guillermo Schelotto sent in a cross from the left for Iarley, who touched the ball past Milan goalkeeper Dida for Matías Abel Donnet to score. Milan almost regained the lead instantly, but Kakà's wonderful curling effort from the edge of the area struck the post.
Third triumph
Defences then established control and the next chance of note fell to Paolo Maldini, making a record fifth appearance in the competition, denied by an instinctive save from Pato. Boca substitute Carlos Tévez shot over from the edge of the area as the game moved into extra time, where Pato produced another excellent stop to deny Shevchenko. The game would go to penalties and, unlike Old Trafford in May, it was not to be Milan's day as Boca coach Carlos Bianchi, who had masterminded CA Vélez Sarsfield's win in 1994 and Boca's defeat of Real Madrid CF in 2000, became the first coach to win the competition three times.
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