AC Milan conquers Surabaya Selection despite heat
AC Milan conquers Surabaya Selection despite heat
JAKARTA (JP): Treacherous heat and humidity failed to stop AC
Milan from showing its mastery yesterday, as the European soccer
giant obliterated local team Surabaya Selection 4-1 at the Gelora
Tambaksari Stadium in the East Java capital of Surabaya.
Casting a shadow across the proceedings were the weekend's
tragic events in Banyuwangi, East Java where hundreds lost their
lives to earthquake-triggered tidal waves. A moment of silence
was held before the opening whistle, and the visitors donated
US$10,000 to the relief effort.
AC Milan, often dubbed the "Dream Team", started the friendly
match aggressively, although it lost a bit of its spunk in the
second half.
All the goals were created in the first half.
With effortless grace, forward Montenegran Dejan Savicevic
scored the first goal two minutes after the opening kick-off,
immediately sending ominous signs that another football massacre
was afoot in Surabaya.
Savicevic also scored the fourth goal, which he delivered
single-handedly, overpowering the entire defense of the home
team.
Gianluigi Lentini, the world's most expensive footballer, and
forward Paolo Baldieri were the other executioners on the star-
studded European team.
The Surabaya team -- a blend of amateur and semi-professional
local booters-- however, eventually proved to be a slightly more
worthy prey for the three-time European champion than Persib
Bandung, which was mercilessly devoured 8-0 in Jakarta on
Saturday.
The Surabayans, unlike Persib, played tight defense, enough to
prevent a storm of goals on their side, and even managed to
fulfill their promise to find the net.
Of course, it happened from a penalty shot, after Captain
Filippo Galli fouled Surabayan striker Agus Winarno.
Not overwhelmed by the thought that he was to join a select
club of Indonesian booters who have gone home against a soccer
super-power, forward Ibnu Graham executed smoothly.
Consequently, Ibnu won the Rp 3 million (US$1500) prize
promised by Agum Gumelar, an official of the All Indonesia
Football Association (PSSI).
The AC Milan goal scorers, instead, were reportedly sick from
sunstroke at the end of the game. Antara reported that Gianlugi
Lentini was vomiting just before he was replaced.
The European stars representing million of dollars of
investment, were rushed immediately to their hotel Patra Hilton
Surabaya after the game.
It was only Saturday when the soccer giant's coach Fabio
Capello proudly claimed that his squad could "overcome all
weather conditions." (hdj)