Heerenveen 1 - 3 AC Milan

AC Milan got their UEFA Cup [联盟杯] Group E adventure off to the best possible start with a comfortable 3-1 win over Dutch side Heerenveen.
An own goal from Heerenveen midfielder Calvin Jong-a-Pin after 19 minutes set them on their way, before goals from Gennaro Gattuso and Filippo Inzaghi completed the tally [记分牌].
Danijel Pranjic added a late consolation goal [安慰球] for the hosts from the penalty spot four minutes from time [终场前4分钟].
Heerenveen started the game brightly, sending a number of crosses into the Milan area. But still they failed to test goalkeeper Dida until Mika Vayrynen tried his luck from all of [十足，不少于] 25 yards with quarter of an hour played.
But just as the hosts appeared to be growing in confidence [逐渐自信] they were rocked by an own goal at the other end. Kaka sent a cross [给出传球] towards the six-yard box [小禁区] and with Inzaghi lurking Jong-a-Pin inadvertently [不注意的] headed the ball into his own net.
Heerenveen failed to pick themselves up [使自己打起精神起来] and four minutes later they were punished again.
Kaka was once more the one to supply the cross into the middle of the penalty area which this time found Gattuso, who scored with a low shot to the right of goalkeeper Brian Vandenbussche.
Slowly the Dutch side came back into the game, as Tarik Elyounossi and Goran Popov had chances before the break [中场休息前] but neither really threatened.
They improved in the second half, however. Pranjic and Gerald Sibon both brought saves out of Dida in the opening 10 minutes.
But as in the first period Milan soaked up the pressure [顶住压力] before finding the net themselves again with 21 minutes to play [全场结束前21分钟].
This time Gattuso played a ball through the Heerenveen defence for Inzaghi to latch onto [得到], and the Italy forward blasted his shot past Vandenbussche.
Alexandre Pato nearly made it four when he forced Vandenbussche to tip a shot [指尖碰出] around the post as the game entered the final 10 minutes, before Heerenveen were finally rewarded with a goal of their own.
Giuseppe Favalli fouled Paulo Henrique in the box, leaving Pranjic to slot home a consolation effort from the penalty spot.

MLS insist Beckham move will only be short term

AC Milan confirmed on Wednesday their desire to sign Beckham in January with initial speculation being that Beckham would head to Italy for six months.
However, in a statement issued late on Wednesday night, MLS said the deal would be restricted to around two to three months to allow Beckham to return to Los Angeles in time for the start of the 2009 MLS season in late March.
"Discussions have taken place between AC Milan and the Los Angeles Galaxy regarding the possibility of a short-term loan agreement that would allow David Beckham to play for AC Milan during the MLS offseason,'' MLS commissioner Don Garber said.
"Those discussions are ongoing. David remains an LA Galaxy player and will be here for the start of the 2009 MLS season.''
The Los Angeles Galaxy have so far declined to comment on any possible deal.
Beckham, 33, wants to remain match fit through the MLS off-season in order to keep alive his chances of playing for England.
Beckham was told by England boss Fabio Capello that he would not be considered for the planned friendly in Spain if he was not playing club football at the time of the match.
A move for two to three months would have obvious benefits for Beckham, who with 107 caps is 18 appearances short of equalling the England record held by Peter Shilton.
Only last week, Capello stressed Beckham has a key role to play for the foreseeable future with England, but that hinges on him playing games, the more competitive the better.
Beckham will be submitting to intense scrutiny if he moves to Milan, given he has spent more than a year in the relatively weak American league, and Capello - who had two spells as boss of the Rossoneri - would pay keen attention to his performances.
Beckham is under contract with the LA Galaxy until 2012 but their season finishes on Sunday.
AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani said: "We are speaking with his agent but we believe he will arrive for some months on a free loan.
"We shall register him for some months and then he will leave. Beckham has chosen Milan. Our squad is ultra-competitive and it will remain this way, but Beckham is something different and intriguing.''
Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti said: "For me it will be a pleasure, Beckham is a serious athlete, a great professional.
"If he is available for four months with us, we will be very happy.''
Former Milan and England striker Luther Blissett believes the move to Italy would pay off for Beckham.
"If he's really going to be part of this England revolution he's got to be playing regular, top-class football with top-class players,'' Blissett told Setanta Sports News.
"I think he'd make a great addition to what they have. And for Beckham to be playing alongside the likes of Kaka and (Clarence) Seedorf in midfield would be great for him as much as it would be for Milan.''
There can be no guarantee of Beckham playing every week, given Milan have Kaka, Seedorf, Gennaro Gattuso and Andrea Pirlo to select from in midfield.
But a move taking him to Milan possibly until March, allowing him to return to the United States for the start of the MLS campaign, would at least allow him to see some first-team action and remain match fit.
England have a busy start to 2009. They have a probable friendly against Spain lined up for February, plus a home friendly against Slovakia in March, and World Cup qualifiers against Ukraine in April, and Kazakhstan and Andorra in June.
Milan expect Beckham's proposed move to bring more supporters through the San Siro turnstiles.
Galliani told acmilan.com: "Beckham will most likely bring more fans rather than fewer ones to the stadium.''
And sports business expert Professor Simon Chadwick, commenting on behalf of Weber Shandwick Sport, said: "Brand Beckham is still a global phenomenon and even in these difficult economic times, his star appeal in parts of the world such as the Middle East and Asia will see AC Milan netting up to £10million, just for a short stay.
"Many of the world's finest footballers have represented the Rossoneri, but Beckham is in his own league when it comes to global impact.''
Beckham's prospective loan move has been welcomed by Serie A players as a signing that would benefit the league.
"We all know he is a great champion,'' said Udinese's Italy striker Antonio di Natale. "He will have no problem playing in our league, the league will be even better with him playing in it. We look forward to seeing him.''

Beckham set for winter-long AC Milan loan

The former England captain is determined to keep his place in the national team and a spell on loan in Europe during the Major League Soccer close season could be beneficial.
Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani today stated his confidence that Beckham will arrive at the San Siro, however it is understood the 33-year-old has not yet committed to the deal.
Beckham is under contract with the LA Galaxy but their regular season finishes on Sunday.
Galliani had indicated at the weekend that Beckham would be invited to train with Milan during the coming months, however it now seems he could sign a short-term deal in January.
Galliani said this morning, at Milan's Malpensa airport: ''We are speaking with his agent but we believe he will arrive for some months on a free loan.''
He added: ''Beckham has chosen Milan. Our squad is ultra-competitive and it will remain this way, but Beckham is something different and intriguing.''
Beckham had been linked with the Rossoneri before leaving Real Madrid for the United States in 2007.
Milan head coach Carlo Ancelotti has given the blessing for the former Manchester United midfielder to join up with his squad, and provide more competition for places.
Ancelotti is looking forward to working with Beckham, who won his 107th England cap in the World Cup qualifying victory over Belarus last week.
Ancelotti told acmilan.com: ''For me it will be a pleasure, Beckham is a serious athlete, a great professional.
''If he is available for four months with us, we will be very happy.''
England boss Fabio Capello has been pleased with Beckham's contribution this year, although he has recently been a fringe member of the squad.
If Beckham moves to Milan - Capello's former club - then he will have the chance to demonstrate in Serie A that he remains a world-class player. Regular club football would almost certainly help his England prospects.
England have a busy start to 2009. They have a probable friendly against Spain lined up for February, plus a home friendly against Slovakia in March, and World Cup qualifiers against Ukraine in April, and Kazakhstan and Andorra in June.