Italian powerhouse AC Milan pulled away in the second half to a 3-1 victory over the Chicago Fire in front of 21,954 fans at Soldier Field on Wednesday night.
After a 1-1 tie at halftime, AC Milan scored two second-half goals, including the winner by striker Alberto Gilardino, who was making his team debut.
AC Milan jumped to a 1-0 lead in the 21st minute. Veteran defender Paolo Maldini sent the ball to forward Christian Vieri in the center of the penalty area. Vieri shot the ball off Fire goalkeeper Zach Thornton's chest, recovered the rebound and sent it into the net.
One minute later, the Fire evened the score when Chris Rolfe put a left-footed shot past goalkeeper Valerio Fiori from 18 yards.
After halftime, AC Milan made five substitutions and scored the winner in the 76th when Clarence Seedorf dribbled around multiple defenders and crossed to Gilardino, who finished with his left foot from 6 yards.
"Good teams can make one play into something and they did," said Fire coach Dave Sarachan. "They made a play that made the difference for them."
The Fire also tweaked its lineup and pushed offensively, but could not score against Milan's strong defense.
AC Milan scored its final goal in injury time when a shot from Serginho hit the crossbar and bounced out, but the referee ruled it had crossed the goal line.
"We were in front of a team that had a great rhythm, was very fast and played a great game," said AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti. "Our group came with a little bit more experience and a little luck."
The Fire (11-7-3) is tied for first in the MLS Eastern Division with the New England Revolution.
AC Milan 3, Chicago Fire 1
July 30, 2005, 1:47 pmParis never led in Olympic voting
July 7, 2005, 2:01 pm
When the International Olympic Committee met in Singapore to decide which city would win the 2012 Olympics, the odds favored front-runner Paris.
But a look behind the scenes shows the French capital never led at any point in the voting that took place on Wednesday.
Indeed, the French capital came within two votes of being eliminated in the third round by Madrid, considered a long shot going in.
In what turned out to be a hotly contested race, support was split fairly evenly among Paris, London, Madrid, New York and Moscow at the start.
After the first ballot, only four votes separated first-place London, with 22 votes, from fourth-place New York, with 19.
Sandwiched between them was Paris, with 21, and Madrid, 20. Moscow lagged behind with 15 and was eliminated.
Outsider Madrid vaulted into first place in the second round with 32 votes after the Russian capital was voted out. London came in with 27, and Paris, 25.
New York's support sagged to just 16 votes, ending its Olympic quest.
London vaulted into the lead for good after apparently absorbing much of New York's support when the Big Apple went by the wayside in the third round.
London added 12 votes to shoot into the lead, with 39 votes. Paris added eight votes to rise to 33, while Madrid lost a vote and fell to 31, sending the Spaniards to the sidelines.
That set the stage for round four -- London vs. Paris, with the victory going to whichever city secured the most votes.
The Madrid vote split almost evenly, and the result was London 54, Paris 50, making the British capital the first city ever picked to host three Summer Olympics.
London has twice played host to the Olympics, in 1908 and 1948.
In the French capital, groans of disappointment swept through a crowd of thousands gathered at Paris Town Hall.
It was the third defeat for Paris in 20 years, with bids for the 1992 and 2008 Games also failing. The city last hosted the Olympics in 1924.
IOC records show Wednesday's vote was the closest for a Summer Olympics host city since 1993, when the Australian city of Sydney beat the Chinese capital of Beijing by two votes in the fourth round to win the 2000 games.
Eight years later, Beijing easily won the 2008 games, besting Toronto, Istanbul, Turkey, and -- yes -- Paris in the second round.
But a look behind the scenes shows the French capital never led at any point in the voting that took place on Wednesday.
Indeed, the French capital came within two votes of being eliminated in the third round by Madrid, considered a long shot going in.
In what turned out to be a hotly contested race, support was split fairly evenly among Paris, London, Madrid, New York and Moscow at the start.
After the first ballot, only four votes separated first-place London, with 22 votes, from fourth-place New York, with 19.
Sandwiched between them was Paris, with 21, and Madrid, 20. Moscow lagged behind with 15 and was eliminated.
Outsider Madrid vaulted into first place in the second round with 32 votes after the Russian capital was voted out. London came in with 27, and Paris, 25.
New York's support sagged to just 16 votes, ending its Olympic quest.
London vaulted into the lead for good after apparently absorbing much of New York's support when the Big Apple went by the wayside in the third round.
London added 12 votes to shoot into the lead, with 39 votes. Paris added eight votes to rise to 33, while Madrid lost a vote and fell to 31, sending the Spaniards to the sidelines.
That set the stage for round four -- London vs. Paris, with the victory going to whichever city secured the most votes.
The Madrid vote split almost evenly, and the result was London 54, Paris 50, making the British capital the first city ever picked to host three Summer Olympics.
London has twice played host to the Olympics, in 1908 and 1948.
In the French capital, groans of disappointment swept through a crowd of thousands gathered at Paris Town Hall.
It was the third defeat for Paris in 20 years, with bids for the 1992 and 2008 Games also failing. The city last hosted the Olympics in 1924.
IOC records show Wednesday's vote was the closest for a Summer Olympics host city since 1993, when the Australian city of Sydney beat the Chinese capital of Beijing by two votes in the fourth round to win the 2000 games.
Eight years later, Beijing easily won the 2008 games, besting Toronto, Istanbul, Turkey, and -- yes -- Paris in the second round.
Bogut gets first pick at NBA draft
June 29, 2005, 2:41 pm
Australia's Andrew Bogut has been selected by the Milwaukee Bucks as the overall number one draft pick in the NBA draft in the United States.
The draft is being held at Madison Square Garden in New York.
The 213-centimetre tall centre, the consenus US collegiate Player of the Year, was chosen by the Bucks ahead of University of North Carolina forward Marvin Williams.
Williams was selected by the Atlanta Hawks.
Twentty-year-old Bogut will sign a multi-million contract with Milwaukee for three years.
He said he was overwhelmed by his number one status.
"It's surreal to me, I think I'll wake up tomorrow morning and have a bit of a realisation of what's going on, but this is just a dream to me come true," he said.
Bogut said he felt he was capable of playing in the NBA after taking on the US at the Athens Olympics.
"I knew I could play with those guys, I knew they were human and I knew if I bring my 'A-game', I can play with them," he said.
Bogut, who grew up in Melbourne, was drafted from the University of Utah and played for Australia in last year's Athens Olympics.
He averaged 20.4 points last season as a sophomore for Utah.
He is only the second non-US player taken as the number one pick in the NBA draft after Chinese sensation Yao Ming took out the honour in 2002.
Bogut should have an immediate impact for the Bucks, who finished in the basement of the central division last year with a 30-52 record.
He runs the floor extremely well for his size and is a solid shooter and rebounder.
US analysts say Bogut will need some work in the low post to become a star in the NBA.
Bucks general manager Larry Harris said they had not made up their mind about Bogut until shortly before the draft.
"Looking down the road, we thought Andrew would be a good foundation piece for us," Harris said.
"He can step in right away we can get back into the play-off picture next year. Adding a competitor like Andrew means we are solid now in the centre position."
Australian Boomers coach Brian Goorjian said Bogut deserved the number one draft selection.
"He's a very skilled 7-footer with a tremendous work ethic and Australia should be very proud of what he's accomplished," he said.
"I just think it's a huge day for basketball in Australia."
Goorjian said he was confident the Boomers could build their team around Bogut in the lead-up to the Beijing Olympics.
"At the last Olympics, we didn't have an NBA player and the possibility in Beijing to have a centre that starts in an NBA team is a piece our program has to have if we are going to medal," he said.
Bogut's number one selection surpasses Australia's previous highest NBA draftee, Luc Longley, who was number seven in 1991 when picked by the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The draft is being held at Madison Square Garden in New York.
The 213-centimetre tall centre, the consenus US collegiate Player of the Year, was chosen by the Bucks ahead of University of North Carolina forward Marvin Williams.
Williams was selected by the Atlanta Hawks.
Twentty-year-old Bogut will sign a multi-million contract with Milwaukee for three years.
He said he was overwhelmed by his number one status.
"It's surreal to me, I think I'll wake up tomorrow morning and have a bit of a realisation of what's going on, but this is just a dream to me come true," he said.
Bogut said he felt he was capable of playing in the NBA after taking on the US at the Athens Olympics.
"I knew I could play with those guys, I knew they were human and I knew if I bring my 'A-game', I can play with them," he said.
Bogut, who grew up in Melbourne, was drafted from the University of Utah and played for Australia in last year's Athens Olympics.
He averaged 20.4 points last season as a sophomore for Utah.
He is only the second non-US player taken as the number one pick in the NBA draft after Chinese sensation Yao Ming took out the honour in 2002.
Bogut should have an immediate impact for the Bucks, who finished in the basement of the central division last year with a 30-52 record.
He runs the floor extremely well for his size and is a solid shooter and rebounder.
US analysts say Bogut will need some work in the low post to become a star in the NBA.
Bucks general manager Larry Harris said they had not made up their mind about Bogut until shortly before the draft.
"Looking down the road, we thought Andrew would be a good foundation piece for us," Harris said.
"He can step in right away we can get back into the play-off picture next year. Adding a competitor like Andrew means we are solid now in the centre position."
Australian Boomers coach Brian Goorjian said Bogut deserved the number one draft selection.
"He's a very skilled 7-footer with a tremendous work ethic and Australia should be very proud of what he's accomplished," he said.
"I just think it's a huge day for basketball in Australia."
Goorjian said he was confident the Boomers could build their team around Bogut in the lead-up to the Beijing Olympics.
"At the last Olympics, we didn't have an NBA player and the possibility in Beijing to have a centre that starts in an NBA team is a piece our program has to have if we are going to medal," he said.
Bogut's number one selection surpasses Australia's previous highest NBA draftee, Luc Longley, who was number seven in 1991 when picked by the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Your Ad Here
US, Iraq have draft to pull US troops out
(AP)
Suicide bombing at Pakistan arms complex kills 59
(AP)
Tropical Storm Fay forces more evacuations in Fla.
(AP)
U.S. softball team denied 4th-straight gold, loses to Japan
(AP)
Butterfingers drop US men, women out of 400 relays
(AP)
16-year-old dies in Tennessee school shooting
(AP)
Leading economic indicators fell sharply in July
(AP)
Rejected by Hong Kong, Glitter arrives in Thailand
(AP)
Now on the Hallmark aisle: Gay marriage cards
(AP)
NFLPA head Gene Upshaw dies of cancer at age 63
(AP)
Rice says Iraq troops deal close
(Reuters)
U.S. demands Russia leave Georgia "now"
(Reuters)
Analysts see tough quarter for U.S. investment banks
(Reuters)
Jamaica sweeps the sprint golds in Beijing
(Reuters)
Suicide bombs kill 59 outside Pakistani arms plant
(Reuters)
Obama Winning Women Voters, but Margin Slimmest Among Baby Boomers
The 'New York Times' Votes Big for Obama Economics
5 Deadliest Hurricanes in U.S. History
One Blogger's Money-Making Secrets
Data Points: Political Fundraising
Suicide Attack at Pakistan Arms Plant Kills 60 People
Rice Travels to Iraq to Push for Deal on U.S. Forces
Report Says Fire, Not Explosion, Felled 7 W.T.C.
China Closes in on Diving Sweep With Gold in Women’s Platform
Madrid Plane Crash Inquiry Begins
Pakistan bombers hit arms factory
Spain grieves for Madrid victims
GCSE girl dies in lorry collision
Teenager in death fall from flats
Two energy firms to raise prices
Gary Glitter 'will fly to London'
Brown visits UK troops in Helmand
Russians halt Nato co-operation
Ex-Kitten Katona is made bankrupt
Swazis protest after royal wives charter plane for shopping trip
Taliban bombs kill 59 at Pakistan arms site
Owner: Doomed jet experienced overheating
Surrogate mom, 61, gives birth to own grandkid
U.S. to Russia: Leave Georgia 'now'
Russia halts military cooperation with NATO
Silk-Based Optical Lenses Green Enough to Eat
Sorry Goldilocks, Black Holes Come in Small and Large
Thawed Bigfoot 'Body' Just a Rubber Suit
Birds Thrown Off by Global Warming
Trace Arsenic in Water Linked to Diabetes
Stem Cells Could Boost Blood Transfusion Supplies
Imperiled Baby Whale Returns to 'Mama' Yachts
Hefty Dinosaurs Trampled Denmark
Palm Vein ID Scan Makes U.S. Debut
In Multi-Pet Homes, Cats Are Top Dogs
Bigfoot DNA Dubbed Scam, Believers Undaunted
SLIDE SHOW: Ten Reasons Why Bigfoot Is Bogus
In Shark Vs. Polar Bear Smackdown, Shark Wins
Birds Thrown Off by Global Warming
Thawed Bigfoot 'Body' Just a Rubber Suit
Imperiled Baby Whale Returns to 'Mama' Yachts
Lost Humpback Whale Calf Bonds With Yacht
In Multi-Pet Homes, Cats Are Top Dogs
Bigfoot DNA Dubbed Scam, Believers Undaunted
Our Good Earth
Haiti Soil
Elephants of Samburu
Desperate Measure
Sailfish in the Whirl
Bolivia's Wrestlers
Lost Tribes of the Green Sahara
International Photo Contest
Editor's Note
Flashback
Your Shot
Desktop Wallpaper
Our Good Earth
Haiti Soil
Elephants of Samburu
Desperate Measure
Sailfish in the Whirl
Bolivia's Wrestlers
Lost Tribes of the Green Sahara
International Photo Contest
Editor's Note
Flashback
Your Shot
Desktop Wallpaper
Deputy: Teen dies after Tenn. school shooting
Afghan bomb kills 3 Canadian soldiers
NATO: Russia halts military cooperation
Displaced Georgians look to U.S. for aid
More funding urged for climate research
Rice says U.S., Iraq agree to troop withdrawal timetable
McCain not sure how many houses he and wife own
Bishop to feds: End mass immigration raids
Report: Fire, not bombs, leveled WTC 7 building
Obama tours GOP-leaning South
Rice says U.S., Iraq agree to troop withdrawal timetable
U.S. coalition: 30 militants die in battle in Afghanistan
Afghan bomb kills 3 Canadian soldiers
NATO: Russia halts military cooperation
Displaced Georgians look to U.S. for aid
Beijing police grab foreign and Chinese activists
Pirates seize 3 ships off Somalia coast
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
