#ONTHISDAY: 2000, GATTUSO'S FIRST ROSSONERI GOAL

Making 468 official appearances in an AC Milan shirt, Rossoneri icon Gennaro Gattuso only tasted the joy of scoring for the side few times. The historic Rossoneri number 8 of the 2000s only scored 11 goals between 1999 and 2012. Sometimes they were massive goals, like the one that sealed victory in Juventus v AC Milan, but Gattuso entered the Rossoneri history books more for those little things that made him one of the best midfielders in the world.

However, you always remember the first time. He marked down his first exactly 24 years ago today, on a cold night in the league. Stadio Dall'Ara in Bologna, 12 February 2000. The Rossoneri, reigning Italian champions, came to Emilia off the back of three consecutive away wins and in search of points to catch up the leading couple, Juventus (+5) and Lazio (+4).

On the eve of the match, Zaccheroni's choice to select Gattuso instead of Helveg was surprising, and from a corner in the 32nd minute, the Calabrian midfielder rewarded him with a beautiful right-footed volley, beating Pagliuca. The Rossoneri doubled the lead after three minutes of the second half, with Shevchenko flying in the air to get his head on a cross from the very same Gattuso in the 48th minute.

AC Milan didn't stop there, and in the 57th minute, Bierhoff made it 3-0 by picking up a short save from Pagliuca. An illusion, the 3-0, however: Bologna scored twice in the 58th and 60th minutes through Ingesson and Eriberto, fully back in the game. The last 30 minutes were truly intense, and rich with chances for both sides. The Felsinei were down to 10 men after Falcone picked up two yellows, the Rossoneri held out for the 3-2 that made Gennaro Gattuso's first goal so unforgettable.

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