#ONTHISDAY: 2007, AC MILAN CHAMPIONS OF THE WORLD

2007 was the year of revenge for AC Milan. The first came against Liverpool in Athens on 23 May with a 2-1 win, with Pippo Inzaghi’s strike avenging the 2005 defeat. On 16 December of the same year, they had another chance to redeem themselves, this time against Boca Juniors who defeated AC Milan on penalties in the 2003 Intercontinental Cup Final. 

It was the same location, the Nissan Stadium in Yokohama, on Tokyo’s doorstep. And the Rossoneri were ruthless against the Argentinians, winning their first FIFA Club World Cup, following three Intercontinental Cups (1969, 1989 and 1990). 4-2 the final result with two star players on that night in Japan: Filippo Inzaghi and Ricardo Kaká. Let’s relive that night through eight photos. 

The teams on the pitch in Yokohama after both winning their Semi-finals 1-0: AC Milan beat Urawa Reds, the Japanese team from Saitama, thanks to Seedorf’s 68th-minute goal. Cardozo scored the winner for Boca against Tunisian team Etoile Sportive du Sahel, who AC Milan in fact hosted at Milanello in August 2023 for a summer friendly. 

AC Milan lined up with the classic ‘Christmas tree’ formation with Seedorf and Kaká behind Inzaghi. Dida in goal, defensive four of Bonera, Nesta, Kaladze and Maldini, and a midfield of three of Ambrosini, Pirlo and Gattuso with the aforementioned front three. An evenly balanced game in the first 20 minutes before AC Milan’s no.22 decided to turn it up, changing the game with dramatic effect.

It was of course Ricky who put it on a plate for Superpippo in the 21st minute; all he had to do was hammer it into an empty net to give the Rossoneri the lead. A tough blow for Boca Juniors however, they had the strength to react immediately and equalised only a minute later through none other than Rodrigo Palacio who headed on Morel’s cross perfectly for the equaliser in the 22nd minute. 

The score remained 1-1 as the teams returned to the dressing rooms but the Rossoneri put their foot on the gas at the beginning of the second half, putting Boca under pressure. Sandro Nesta reacted quickest in the box from the set piece and powered a right-footed shot past Caranta to make it 2-1. Just like that, we were ahead again. 

A goal every ten minutes to weaken the Argentine resistance. In the 61st minute, Kaká sprinted down the left and shot across goal, catching the Boca goalkeeper by surprise. He was unable to hold onto the ball and watched it roll over the line. AC Milan took the lead thanks to their Brazilian, soon-to-be-crowned Ballon d’Or winner and caught a glimpse of the finishing line. 

Who, if not SuperPippo, to round off proceedings in a final? After having scored the two goals which won our seventh Champions League, Inzaghi also scored a brace in the World Final, finishing off a play that started with Seedorf playing it into Kaká’s path. Once again, the Brazilian put it on a plate for Pippo who made no mistake, sealing the game at 4-1. 

Kaladze’s straight red card in the 77th minute reignited the Argentine’s hope and Boca did manage to reduce the deficit in the 85th minute with Ledesma’s strike, which rebounded off Ambrosini and sent Nelson Dida the wrong way. Ledesma was then given a straight red in the final minutes, like Kakhaber, killing off any chance of a comeback for the Argentine. The last minutes were purely routine, leading to yet another, and last, trophy for Ancelotti with the Rossoneri. 

The Rossoneri lifted the Club World Cup Trophy under the Yokohama sky, a perfect cherry on top of an unforgettable 2007, which saw two sweet instances of revenge for our time and above all, was another high point in those five years of success in every competition, domestic and international. 

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