Emirates Cup: AC Milan 1-1 Olympique Lyonnais

Emirates Cup 2010 - AC MilanEmirates Cup 2010 - Olympique Lyonnais

AC Milan 1-1 Olympique Lyonnais
Emirates Cup, Emirates Stadium
Sunday, August 1, kick-off: 2pm

AC Milan goalscorers: Borriello, 55
Olympique Lyonnais goalscorers: Briand, 80

Three games, three draws. That's the story of the Emirates Cup so far, not that many of those who have been watching will complain.

AC Milan took the lead against Olympique Lyonnais in match one of Day Two of this summer's tournament, but Jimmy Briand equalised for the French side with 10 minutes to go.

Just as they did against Celtic yesterday, Olympique Lyonnais started brightly. In the second minute Miralem Pjanic turned away from Rodney Strasser and skipped passed Clarence Seedorf, only to see his low drive hit the post. His wonderful trickery deserved a goal.

A minute later, Les Gones found the back of the net but the offside flag had been raised against Bafetimbi Gomes.

After his stunning goal yesterday Michel Bastos' first free kick was greeted with anticipant applause from the crowd, but it was hit low to the near post and was easy for Marco Amelia to scoop up.

Milan's first clear-cut opening needed a brave and alert Hugo Lloris to deny Borriello, who had looked to latch on to Alexander Merkel's near-post flick on from a left-wing cross.

Just before the half hour Briand forced Amelia to save at the near post and shortly after Bastos excited the crowd by twice lifting the ball over his man before volleying a pin-point cross to Briand, whose first touch let him down. Moments later Pjanic placed a good chance too close to the keeper.

Ten minutes into the second half AC Milan broke the deadlock.

The Italians kept possession from Olympique Lyonnais and Seedorf displayed wonderful vision to chip the backline and find Borriello through on goal. He exchanged passes with Merkel and slotted into the bottom corner.

A clutter of substitutions followed, though Alexandre Lacazette should have done better when a corner fell to him inside the area in the 70th minute. Moments later Briand was denied by Amelia at the near post.

With 17 minutes to play, Olympique Lyonnais hit the bar.

Jeremy Pied surged into the area, and despite slipping on the turn picked out Maxime Gonalons whose powerful shot cannoned off the woodwork. Lyonnais' search for an equaliser had accelerated several gears in a matter of minutes.

At the other end Milan had a dangerous free kick on the edge of the 'D'. Seedorf sliced it high and wide.

The goal Olympique Lyonnais had been pushing for came with 10 minutes remaining. Pjanic picked out Briand at the back post and he headed home. The pair had looked dangerous all afternoon and had come together to provide the equaliser their side deserved.

Harry Novillo flashed just wide of goal in the closing stages, but neither side could find a winner.

AC Milan: Marco Amelia, Clarence Seedorf (c), Rodney Strasser, Sokratis (Mario Alberto Yepes, 62), Mathieu Flamini (Gennaro Gattuso, 46), Massimo Oddo, Gianluca Zambrotta (Luca Antonini, 68), Borriello (Giacomo Beretta, 77), Daniele Bonera, Alexander Merkel (Mitja Novinic, 80), Simone Verdi (Pato, 58)
Substitutes not used: Flavio Roma, Alessandro Nesta, Ignazio Abate, Michelangelo Albertazzi

Olympique Lyonnais: Hugo Lloris, Lamine Gassama (Anthony Reveillere, 60), Cris (c), Jimmy Briand (Yannis Tafer, 90), Miralem Pjanic, Ederson (Kim Kallstrom, 80), Michel Bastos (Jeremy Pied, 46), Bafetimbi Gomis (Alexandre Lacazette, 64) (Harry Novillo, 84), Aly Cissokho, Maxime Gonalons, Jeremy Toulalan
Substitutes not used: Remy Vercoutre, Dejan Lovren, Thimote Kolodziejczak, Jean Makoun, Clement Grenier

Referee: Minoru Tojo (Japan)

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