9 man Perguia hold AC Milan

Ukrainian Andriy Shevchenko (R) of Milan is challenged by Iranian Rahman Rezaei of Perugia during an Italian Serie A soccer match in Milan 10 February 2002

Sports.com - AC Milan were held to a disappointing 1-1 draw at the San Siro by mid-table Perugia in a further blow to the Rossoneri's hopes of closing in on the Serie A leaders.

The omens looked good for the home side with long-term injury absentees Manuel Rui Costa and Massimo Ambrosini back in the fold, but the latter's afternoon lasted just 30 minuets before he was stretchered off with a fresh problem.

The home side started brightly and after Martin Laursen had gone close with a header, Ambrosini was felled in the box by Rahman Rezaei.

Brazilian wing-back Serginho stepped up and confidently dispatched the spot-kick to open the scoring.

But 12 minutes later Ambrosini's afternoon turned sour when he was carried off with an ankle injury in a massive blow for Milan.

Zisis Vryzas and Fabio Bazzani both squandered clear-cut chances before the interval for the visitors as Milan held on.

But Carlo Ancelotti's men failed to heed the warning and Perugia levelled the game straight after half time.

Bazzani stole into the penalty area unmarked to head home in acres of space to the delight of the travelling support.

Milan were handed a lifeline soon after when Davide Baiocco was dismissed for a second bookable offence, but with Oscar Cordoba in inspired form between the sticks, Perugia held on to bag a point.

Sean Sogliano was dismissed in the dying seconds as Perugia were reduced to nine men but by then the game was over.

G 32. Cordoba - 7
D 6. Sogliano - 5 (Red card '89)
D 22. Di Loreto - 6
D 24. Rezaei - 6
D 2. Ze Maria - 7
M 8. Blasi - 5
M 44. Gatti - 6 --->
M 17. Baiocco - 5 (Red card '61)
M 11. Grosso - 6
F 9. Bazzani - 6 --->
F 15. Vryzas - 5

Subs:

Fusani(69) - 6
Milanese(89)

And for Milan:

G 18. Abbiati - 6
D 25. Roque Junior - 6
D 5. Costacurta - 6
D 24. Laursen - 6
M 10. Rui Costa - 5 --->
M 15. Donati - 5 --->
M 8. Gattuso - 6
M 23. Ambrosini --->
M 27. Serginho - 7
F 7. Shevchenko - 5
F 14. Jose Mari - 4


Subs:
Pirlo(55) - 7
Umit(61)
Brocchi(30) - 6