Milan old guard repel PSV

By Ivan Carvalho at San Siro

Like a broken record that just keeps on repeating, AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti continues to emphasise the role of experience as he looks to lead his team to another UEFA Champions League final in Istanbul next month. After a difficult night against a determined PSV Eindhoven at the San Siro, few would argue with the 45-year-old's assessment as the Rossoneri withstood serious second-half pressure to seal a two-goal first-leg victory.

Ageing defence
A quick glance at the starting lineup revealed a back line with a combined age of 129 and 36-year-old captain Paolo Maldini acting as standard-bearer. With Alessandro Nesta suspended, the Milan captain's partner was 32-year-old former PSV player Jaap Stam, while the indefatigable 34-year-old Brazilian Cafu, continued to justify his 'Il Pendolino' - the Express Train - moniker with typically steaming runs down the right flank. On the opposite wing, Kakha Kaladze was, at 27, a veritable spring chicken.

PSV jitters
Conversely, Milan's Dutch visitors fielded five players under 25 in their starting eleven and as their coach Guus Hiddink predicted before the game, nerves prayed on his side in the opening exchanges. The San Siro's capacity is double that of PSV's Philips stadium and the atmosphere seemed to overwhelm the visors as they were immediately forced on to the back foot. Fortunately, 24-year-old goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes seemed unaffected and only his sprightly reactions kept out Andriy Shevchenko on three minutes.

Seedorf tenacity
Milan continued to dominate the match as PSV's hopes of testing their opponent's aging defence with their pacy strike duo were constantly snuffed out in midfield. Much of the leg work was done by Clarence Seedorf who, at 29 can hardly be described as old but now in his 13th season of professional football, he certainly has a wealth of experience. The three-time Champions League winner constantly harried Mark van Bommel and at half-time Hiddink added an extra man in midfield to try and wrest the initiative.

Shevchenko pounces
By that time the Dutch side were already 1-0 down after another old hand on the European stage, Andriy Shevchenko, latched on to a sublime pass from Kaká and coolly slotted a right-footed effort under the advancing Gomes to record his sixth goal of this season's competition. That hammer blow might have been the end for lesser sides, but the tactical mastery of Hiddink allowed PSV to battle back in the second period.

Tactical nous
With the hope of catching their opponents on the break apparently failing, the tall and powerful Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink was added to the forward line to offer another option in attack. The Dutch international immediately began to open up the spaces and managed to piece together several efforts, with Ji-Sung Park missing two gilt-edged chances.

Super Stam
But the Milan back line has the uncanny knack of reducing opportunities to half-chances, with Stam throwing his body towards any ball that looked like troubling Dida and forcing Park and Van Bommel to shoot from acute angles. Maldini was beaten in the air by Vennegoor of Hesselink with four minutes remaining, but PSV's hopes of drawing level were soon dashed as Jon Dahl Tomasson climbed off the bench to double Milan's lead.

History repeated
After their seventh consecutive Champions League clean sheet and having played their fourth European match in a row at the San Siro - and registered another win - the players must be thinking they have seen it all before. Ancelotti would have it no other way.