#ONTHISDAY: 2012, AC MILAN 2‑1 NOVARA

The last day of the season always brings out special emotions, and concludes a long and exhausting year. Results are looked back upon, and fans and the squad start looking ahead to the following season. It can also signal a final goodbye, the end of a career. On 13 May 2012 at San Siro against Novara, it was the last time several AC Milan players set foot on the hallowed home turf. It was an afternoon we want to look back on:

The stands were full of fans' banners celebrating and honoring some historic Rossoneri figures set to leave. It was to be the last appearances for four players who were part of two Champions League winning sides and the 17th Scudetto title: Gattuso, Inzaghi, Nesta and Seedorf - after Roma, van Bommel and Zambrotta left the year before.

Both teams' 2011/12 Serie A final placings had already been written in stone: AC Milan were certain to finish second, and automatic qualification to the Champions League, with Novara having been relegated to Serie B after just one year in the top-flight. The game, though, was lively with the Piemontesi taking the lead after 20 minutes through the Argentinian defender García, and went close several times to double their lead, especially through chances by Caracciolo and Rigoni.

The Rossoneri came close to an equaliser at the end of the first half through Zambrotta and Ibra, but momentum grew at the start of the second. After 56 minutes, Flamini capitalised on Allegri's side's attacking intent with a perfectly timed run to slot home from Cassano's assist.

It was the French midfielders first goal of the season, after having just returned to action a few days earlier after a long period out with a cruciate knee ligament injury. Flamini hadn't netted since 1 May 2011 in the game AC Milan v Bologna, grabbing a vital goal for the Scudetto win.

The equalising goal gave the Rossoneri a boost, helped out by a fired up San Siro crowd as two champions entered the field of play. Out of the four heroes from Manchester and Athens, two were starters (Gattuso and Seedorf), while two others came on in the 67th minute: Alessandro Nesta and Filippo Inzaghi.

Another 15 minutes passed and in a fairy-tale ending, it was Filippo Inzaghi who found the winning goal in the closing stages. It was a classic SuperPippo goal, staying just onside and making the most of Seedorf's central ball through. It was a stunning goal, celebrated emotionally by the whole stadium like past, old times. 

For the legendary Rossoneri number 9, it was his 127th goal for the Club on his 300th appearance.

At the death, Seedorf came mightitly close to adding another, which would have been the icing on the cake. It ended 2-1 at San Siro, and in the stands applause and appreciation was gifted out in abundance to some great Rossoneri champions with further banners and a special choreography by the Curva Sud.

The party then moved onto the pitch, where the players were joined by their families. One by one, they received the right accolades for the history they had written for AC Milan, ending what was a special and unforgettable afternoon.

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