By Anna Italia


                   
                   LA Galaxy 2 - 2 AC Milan 
                                                   30' Alan Gordon                16' Thiago Silva
                                       64' Jordan                         60' Filippo Inzaghi
       
                 

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Guys, I went to the Home Depot Center Stadium to cover the international friendly game between LA GALAXY - AC MILAN as a fan.  Hello, I had to go and see our Rossoneri from a fan point of view and you bet I had a blast cheering for AC Milan, our guys, our family! 


Photo: Italian Soccer Serie A
Anna Italia host of Italian Soccer Serie A

So, let me tell you, preparation for the match was super and the crowd arriving earlier to make their picnic and wearing their respective jerseys showing their support either for LA Galaxy or AC Milan.  Most of the jerseys were from AC Milan, especially that of Ronaldinho. Though, also you had  Milan fans wearing jerseys from Maldini, Pirlo, Gattuso, Beckham,




It was a sold out guys, clearly you had a section of LA Galaxy fans and another section with a boisterous crowd cheering for AC Milan. 

I was walking all over the stadium living every moment of the game and observing the reactions of fans from different cultures with one common hobby "Supporters of AC Milan." They keep saying we like AC Milan.  We are here supporting Milan,  or we are here for Ronaldinho.



Photo: Italian Soccer Serie A

There were lot of fans wearing also the LA Galaxy Jersey from Beckham.  Fans are divided on those who support Beckham either staying in LA Galaxy or returning to AC Milan and those fans who just boo him.
Here is the official starting line up for LA GALAXY  by coach Bruce Arena:

L.A. GALAXY: Ricketts; Berhalter, Gonzales, De La Garza, Dunivant ; Donovan, Miglioranzi, Beckham, Lewis; Gordon, Eskandarian.

Here is the official starting lineup for AC MILAN by coach Leonardo:

AC MILAN: ZeljkoKalac; Massimo  Oddo,  Alessandro Nesta, Thiago Silva, Marek Jankulovski; Flamini, Massimo Ambrosini, Clarence Seedorf , Di Gennaro; Marco Borriello,Ronaldinho.

The moment of the lineup announcement.... wow... you could hear a loud boo when they announced the name of David Beckham. Imagine this was his first home game.  Gee, I felt so bad !!!   Beckham is so loved in Milan after he spent five months on an extended loan that he conquered the heart of most AC Milan fans, not to mention the good friendship with his AC Milan players. 

Personally, I like Beckham and really had a blast seeing him visiting AC Milan on their first training in UCLA and how they all welcomed him with embraces like one of their own. Also, Beckham was very nice with me and I would love to see him back with AC Milan.

Guys, when the announcers started the AC Milan lineup, wow, a big roar for RONALDINHO, Filippo Inzaghi, and Clarence Seedorf.

Ironically, it was David Beckham providing the assist for the two goals scored by LA Galaxy and slowly but surelly some of the "boos" turned into "cheers, applause."  Beckham was substituted in the 75th minute by Mike Magee and you could see some LA Galaxy fans now applauding him instead of booing while some AC Milan fans were yelling "ritorna a Milano, noi ti amiamo," in English it means "We love you, return to Milan."  Wow, that was so cool !!!

In the first half, LA Galaxy was setting the tone and by no means afraid of  the giant AC Milan with all their pedigree which include 17 times winner of Italy Scudetto, Champions League winner, and FIFA World Club among other trophies. I was watching with attention and rooting for our AC Milan to my heart content!  Though, guys, LA Galaxy had more ball possession and better goal opportunities than our Milan in the first half. 

Imagine the excitement of the crow when in the 7th minute David Beckham makes long range pass from about 60 yards to Eddie Lewis and when everybody thought it was going to be a goal, hello, hello, hello, Lewis missed the target!!!  Uffa what a relief!

I was so happy to see Marco Borriello in the starting line up as theday before I asked Leonardo on whether Borriello was still afundamental player for the Rossoneri and he assured to me yes. So,there it was, Borriello in action to recover his best shape after lastseason being out for injury for a long period.


AC Milan Coach Leonardo during the Friendly game LA GALAXY - AC MILAN

In the 16th minute, guys, I practically jumped from my seat along other AC Milan fans when Davide Di Gennaro sends the assist to Thiago Silva heading the ball from insidea the area blasting LA Galaxy goalkeeper.  You could hear immediately the chant "po po po po po po"  wow, what a blast guys!!!!  I literally jumped from my seat to cheer  along the other fans and chant the "PO PO PO PO PO" as we do here in the blog. It was awesome!!!! 

Hum, what, when!!!! Then, in the 30th minute, BA BA BOOOMMM LA Galaxy equalizes the score  after a long range pass by David Beckham to Landon Donovan and I was where is the defenseeeeeeeeee!!!!!!   Donovan passed through and send the assist to Alan Gordon who came as a substitute for Edson Buddle blasting AC Milan goalkeeper Zeljko Kalac. OH wow... now it was turn for LA Galaxy fans to cheer for their team and Beckham gaining some cheers instead of boos.

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I was praying for Borriello to score and he had his chance .....



One bad episode guys, when at the end of the first half a group of fans with big banners kept contesting Beckham.  Guys, it was just unbelievable how they kept booing Beckham, so then, Beckham approached the group to confront this small group who kept insulting him too. I was in total disbelief!   Anyway, guys, one of the fans almost wanted to jump to fight with Beckham.  Wow, imagine that Ronaldinho and Alessandro Nesta had to go to rescue Beckham to avoid further problems. 

I thought everything was going to be in order again, and nope!  Just when the teams were making their entrance for the second half, the same group of fans continue contesting Beckham and whistling.  Oh well....  



Massimo Ambrosini Captain and Mathieu Flamini



Photo: AP/ La Presse

Best part of Milan was seeing Ronaldinho running on the wing creating all kind of dangers for LA Galaxy and the fans applauding, rooting every time Ronaldinho had the ball. It is a delight to watch him play guys.  In the 61st minute, Ronaldinho makes a pass  to midfielder Mathieu Flamini then Flamini sending the assist in between the legs of LA Galaxy defender Leonard Griffin to find Super FILIPPO INZAGHI ready to bam bam bam blasting LA Galaxy goalkeeper Josh Saunders.  The crowd went wild for Inzaghi chanting his name and the "po po po po po po po"  Was I chanting too?  YOU BET I WAS!!!!  Are you kidding me!  I am a super fan of Super Pippo!!!!  I practically cried watching him score!




Happiness lasted four minutes!!! Uffa!!!!  In the  64th minute, an assist by David Beckham from a corner kick and oh my gosh when he was walking to the corner all the "boos" again!!! I was mad!  Guys, Beckham is so nice and the only thing he wants is to play.  Beckham provides the assist from the corner kick to Byran Jordan who just headed the ball blasting my beloved AC Milan goalkeeper Marco Storari!!!!!


Photo: Italian Soccer Serie A
Here is the LA Galaxy Mascot rooting for the goal!!!   I love his pose guys!  What a blast being at the stadium and seeing all reactions!

Being the first test of Leonardo, I will say it is satisfactory. Yet, Leonardo must improve the work of the defense.  Guys, at the end, goalkeeper Marco Storari made some good saves, otherwise we would have lost this match.  Time to improve before the other games against Chelsea, Club America, and FC Inter. .


Photo: Italian Soccer Serie A

Anna Italia from Italian Soccer Serie A with  an  AC Milan group David, Daniel, Jinelle, and Marcus carrying the giant AC Milan flag.



Here is Ronaldinho saluting the crowd, fans rooting  and applauding his actions in the game.
Forza Ronaldinho.

Photo: AC Milan.com



Photo: Italian Soccer Serie A
Look from this angle, the Home Depot Center was really sold out, no space!!!  It was awesome to see a full stadium without violence supporting their respective teams.



At the end of the game it was so nice to see the friendly embrace from David Beckham and Super Filippo Inzaghi.  Inzaghi was among the most applauded guys.  Every time he had a chance to score you see the fans standing up following the action.  It was awesome!

These 2 photos are from the warm up..... slowly but surely the stadium was packed!!!


Photo: Italian Soccer Serie A
During the warm up.






 

  Not a single space available guys.....  SUPER FULL and people even standing.  I did my whole walk around the stadium to see the fans enjoying the match in every corner.


Photo: Italian Soccer Serie A


Photo: Italian Soccer Serie A
Look at this angle guys, the top, there were no space available everywhere.. it was totally packed!!!!



Photo: Italian Soccer Serie A

Just when I was going to the parking, I found this FIORENTINA fan wearing  not only Fiorentina Jersey but carrying also the giant Fiorentina flag!  He is a super fan of Fiorentina and lived in Florence too. 


Click the video to watch the highlights of the International Friendly game LA GALAXY - AC MILAN on Sunday, July 19, 2009.



LINEUPS

International Friendly Club Match
L.A. GALAXY- AC MILAN
Home Depot Center Carson
Los Angeles, California
7 p.m.

L.A. GALAXY: Ricketts (45' Saunders); Berhalter (45' Griffin), Gonzales, De La Garza, Dunivant (45' Sanneh); Donovan (45' Birchall), Miglioranzi (45' Kirovski), Beckham (75' Magee), Lewis (65' Klein); Gordon, Eskandarian (60' Jordan).

Coach: Bruce Arena

AC MILAN: Zeljko Kalac (45' Storari); Massimo  Oddo (77' Albertazzi), Alessandro Nesta (45' Favalli), Thiago Silva (81' Ikande), Marek Jankulovski (45' Antonini); Flamini, Massimo Ambrosini (77' Strasser), Clarence Seedorf (71' Abate), Di Gennaro (45' Inzaghi); Marco Borriello (69' Zigoni), Ronaldinho.

Coach: Leonardo

REFEREE: Silviu Petrescu

SPECTATORS: 27.000

Here is the complete list of  AC Milan friendlies for the 2009 Summer:

2009 World Football Challenge
AC Milan - Club America
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Georgia Dome
Atalanta, Georgia
7 p.m. USA Eastern time
Buy your tickets now:AC Milan vs. Club America Tickets

2009 World Football Challenge
Chelsea FC v AC Milan
Friday, July 24, 2009
M & T Stadium
Baltimore, Maryland
8 p.m. USA Eastern time
Buy your tickets now: 
Chelsea FC vs. AC Milan Tickets

2009 World Football Challenge
AC Milan - Inter Milan
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Gillette Stadium
Foxborough, Massachusetts
5 p.m. USA Eastern time

Buy your tickets now:  AC Milan vs. Inter Milan Tickets

AUDI CUP 2009 FOOTBALL
Bayern Munich - AC Milan
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Allianz Arena
Munich, Germany

Buy your tickets now: Bayern Munich - AC Milan tickets Audi Cup 2009
Seated Tickets Category 1 and 2

AUDI CUP 2009 FOOTBALL
Winner of Manchester United / Boca Juniors versus winner of Bayern Munich / AC Milan
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Allianz Arena
Munich, Germany
Buy your soccer tickets now: Manchester United/Boca Juniors - Bayern Munich/AC Milan


EUSEBIO CUP Second Edition
Benfica - AC Milan
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Lisbon, Portugal
Buy your soccer tickets: Benfica tickets

Trofeo TIM 9th Edition
AC Milan - Inter Milan - FC Juventus
Friday, August 14, 2009
Pescara, Italy
Buy your soccer tickets : AC Milan tickets

TROFEO LUIGI BERLUSCONI 19th Edition
AC Milan - FC Juventus
Monday, August 17, 2009
San Siro Stadiumbr>Milan, Italy
Buy your soccer tickets: AC Milan tickets

SANTIAGO BERNABEU TROPHY
Real Madrid - AC Milan
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Santiago Bernabeu Stadium
Madrid, Spain
Buy your soccer tickets: Real Madrid Tickets