2:1 against AC Milan – perfect integration

04.08.2002 | Much attention was focused on the integration of the newcomers to Bayern Munich and the Munich giants gave their own inimitable answer. New Bayern stars Michael Ballack and Zé Roberto both won free kicks following solo runs which were put away by “old guard” members Michael Tarnat (21st minute) and Mehmet Scholl (74th minute). The victory over AC Milan puts Bayern Munich in the final against the hosts of the Real Madrid centenary tournament on Sunday night.

With the untried midfield combination of Nico Kovac, Michael Ballack, Jens Jeremies and Markus Feulner, Ottmar Hitzfeld’s team got off to a slow start. AC Milan took full advantage and dominated in the first quarter of an hour. Andrej Schevchenko passed to Dario Simic on the right wing, whose floating ball to the penalty spot was sent to the back of the net by Filippo Inzaghi’s swivelling shot. Oliver Kahn had no chance of preventing Milan from taking the lead.

The goal stung Bayern, in particular Michael Ballack, into action. The new signing from Bayer Leverkusen took more and more control of the game and was responsible for Bayern’s best scenes. When he was fouled just outside the penalty area in the 21st minute; Michael Tarnat equalised with a low, hard free kick, which Milan’s keeper Abbiati saw too late.

Bayern then piled on the pressure, with a 30 yard effort from Jens Jeremies just going wide. Next, a taste of things to come for the Bayern fans. A lovely flowing sequence from Ballack to Elber to striker Zickler, who was narrowly beaten 10 yards out by the oncoming Italian keeper.

Feulner and a lively Scholl both missed taking the lead for Bayern. At the other end, a searing 20 yard strike from Clarence Seedorf was saved by the masterly Kahn. Then came the moment of Zé Roberto and Scholl. In his first minute on the pitch, the ex-Leverkusener made a solo run towards goal and was fouled. The subsequent free kick was planted in the back of the net by a curling 25 yard Mehmet Scholl speciality, making it 2-1 for Bayern.

AC Milan turned up the pressure in the final 15 minutes but failed to make any impact on the Bayern defence, with Kahn continuing in his World Cup form and preventing the Italian outfit from equalising.

Bayern: Kahn – Tarnat (46. Salihamidzic), Linke (R. Kovac), Kuffour, Thiam – N. Kovac. Jeremies, Ballack (46. Scholl), Feulner (70. Zé Roberto) – Zickler, Elber (46. Pizarro)