#ONTHISDAY: 2014, AC MILAN 3‑0 CHIEVO
History
A seemingly innocuous 29 March 2014: on Saturday evening at San Siro, Clarence Seedorf's AC Milan and Eugenio Corini's Chievo took to the field. The Rossoneri's position in the table was not flattering with the team in 12th position, although not too many points away from the European places. When Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite, known to the football world as Kaká, is on the pitch, every match is transformed. And this game, AC Milan v Chievo, years later, has taken on very sentimental value: it was the match in which Ricky scored his final two goals as an AC Milan player.
The match for the number 22 was special right from the off, because it marked his 300th appearance for AC Milan. The affection of the fans in the stands was all for him even before the kick-off. Kaká's wand of a right foot would then round off the celebrations with two magic moments.
On the stroke of half-time and the deadlock was broken by Balotelli, who hit a right-footed volley from Rami's cross to put the Rossoneri ahead. The pressure eased and AC Milan found space and opportunities to strike at the Chievo, and it was Taarabt in the 23rd minute who went close to doubling the lead.
The second goal of the evening came and it was scored by Kaká, who scored his sixth goal of the league season, after an elegant chest control, after a beautiful assist by Honda. In the 27th minute and the game was already nearly won, Coach Seedorf's team in complete control.
With eight minutes to go before half-time, Taarabt and Balotelli combined but Keisuke squandered the chance to make it 3-0, sending Mario's precise ball high over the bar. At half-time it was 2-0 to us, to the applause of the stadium and the unwitting knowledge of what was to come next.
The run of play in the second half did not change and saw AC Milan still in control of the game. Eight minutes into the game there was a fantastic moment from Kaká, a goal "à la Kaká", a right-footed shot at the far post that beat the helpless Agazzi. The Brazilian scored his seventh league goal, his 104th overall, the last of his extraordinary career for the Rossoneri.
In the 29th minute of the second half, with the result largely settled, Seedorf took Kaká off and gave him the standing ovation of San Siro. Robinho replaced him. Ricky thus ended his 300th appearance in the Rossoneri shirt, with a brace that will go down in history in its own way. The man born in 1982 would play 7 more games that season, without finding the back of the net. In the summer he would say goodbye to AC Milan to join Orlando, in the MLS.
In the final minutes of the match Théréau put a penalty over the crossbar, allowing the Rossoneri to keep a clean sheet on the night. The victory over Chievo, the second consecutive after the 0-2 win in Florence, brought AC Milan closer to the top of the table and kept alive their hopes of qualifying for Europe.
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