The National Olympic Stadium in Tokyo, 9 December 1990
9th December 1990
A day where AC Milan got to bask in glory once again. But for a while, it seemed like things were about to get complicated against Paraguayan side Olimpia. The Rossoneri were the favourites, but there was the feeling that the South Americans had found a way to stifle AC Milan as the 40th-minute mark passed. But the goal scored by Rijkaard, the same player who had found the net in Vienna and Bologna, just a minute before half-time had a reassuring effect on the team, who had watched as Paolo Maldini left the pitch after 25 minutes due to injury.
At the beginning of the second half, a goal from Giovanni Stroppa and another from Frank Rijkaard just a few minutes later put the game to bed, highlighting AC Milan’s status as a powerhouse of world football. It was a period where trophy success was coming thick and fast for the Rossoneri, whose players also monopolised the Ballon d’Or podium. Marco van Basten’s performance against the team from Asunción was simply magnificent. While the Swan of Utrecht didn’t score, his general play was sensational throughout, much to the delight of the Japanese crowd present. Purely in terms of technical quality, perhaps it was the best match of his career.
