1994 Toyota Cup - AC Milan v Velez Sarsfield

Tokyo, Japan - AC Milan 0v2 Velez Sarsfield

AC Milan were undoubtedly the outstanding side in Europe of the 90's, but the side that had won 3 consecutive Scudettos and would reach 3 consecutive European Cup Finals were reaching the end of their dominance.
Dutch masters Rijkaard and Gullit had left the Rossoneri, and Milan had also lost Van Basten to what would end up being a career ending injury, although a 4v0 victory over the Barcelona 'Dream Team' in the Champions League Final of 94 showed that there was still much talent in the Milan side.
Milan's opponents in the 1994 Toyota Cup had a much less glamorous history of silverware, although Velez Sarsfield were entering the most successful period of the Club's history having ended a 25 years without a trophy by winning the 1993 Apertura.
Velez achieved Continental success by winning the 1994 Copa Libertadores, ending the reign of Sao Paulo, in only their 2nd appearance in the competition.

Milan's preparations for the game were hardly ideal, as a logistical error in their choice of hotel meant that on the way to training sessions Milan's squad spent 4 hours on a coach in Tokyo's traffic jams,

The game itself was no classic as a below par Milan side were made to pay for 2 decisive errors, both involving Alessandro Costacurta, whose miserable evening was capped off by receiving his marching orders late in the tie.
Costacurta would later admit during a television interview that his performance "Was the single worst performance in my career" and admitted "I cost us the game".
Despite recording a historic victory, unfancied Velez also failed to impress, but their ability to capitalise on errors from Milan defender was the difference on the night.

Milan had been struggling for goals in Serie A, and carried this problem to Japan where their play in the final third of the pitch let them down. Milan started the game better, pressing Velez hard who were not allowed to get into their rhythm, but the final ball from the Rossoneri was poor, particularly the delivery from wide areas.
As the first half progressed Velez started winning more of the midfield battles, but like their European counterparts lacked a cutting edge up front.
In the dying moments of the 1st half Milan finally carved out an opportunity when a wonderfully flighted ball from Savicevic found Boban, but with the angle narrowing, he could only fire wide.
Early in the 2nd half Milan at last forced extrovert Goalkeeper Chilavert into some serious action when Chilavert had to be smartly off his line to deny Massaro, after the Argentine defence was caught napping by a long raking ball.

Then came the incident that turned the game on it's head as Velez were awarded a penalty following when Costacurta was adjudged to have brought down Asad in the area. Trotta fired the penalty underneath Milan Goalkeeper Rossi, to give Velez the lead, having hardly threatened the Milan goal prior to the incident.The European Champions almost responded straight away through Massaro, again set up by Savicevic, but Chilavert was on hand to tip the ball wide.

But any hopes of levelling the contest were dealt a fatal blow when Costacurta gifted Velez a second on 57mins. The lively Asad intercepted a lazy backpass by the Italian defender, and after beating Rossi to the ball he swivelled and curled the ball into the net from a tight angle.

Milan never looked likely of pulling it back, although Massaro was unlucky not to at least reduce the deficit after narrowly failing to connect with a Simone cross and soon after forcing a great save from Chilavert.

Constacurta's nightmare was complete on 85mins when he was dismissed after being robbed of the ball from Asad, and with the striker bearing in on goal, he was tugged back by Costacurta, who was shown the red card.
It could have been worse for Milan as Velez almost grabbed a 3rd in stoppage time when Flores was put through on goal, only for the ball to get stuck under his feet at the crucial moment.
Asad would be awarded the Man of the Match award, but admitted that Velez had been nervous in the early stages of the match as their lack of big match experience counted against them.
Velez Coach Carlos Bianchi went on to say "We aren't a very well known team yet, but it's not the past that matters, it's the present", while Bianchi's opposite number Fabio Capello bemoaned Milan's lack of cutting edge "We could not make use of the 5 chances we had, but Velez grabbed their one and only chance".