SoccerAmerica - Muntari's goal puts Barcelona on the brink 02/20/2013

[VIDEO PICK: Golazos] Three beautiful goals from Champions League play including Sulley Muntari's 81st minute dagger landing a mortal blow to Barcelona's title hopes in AC Milan's memorable 2-0 victory over the world's best team at the San Siro in Italy.

Barcelona’s game in Milan was its knockout phase debut since Pep Guardiola left, and it looked in desperate need of some direction from Pep, or a speedy recovery by Tito Villlanueva, and the tournament favorite now needs a margin of three goals or more to progress at home in Spain, 2-0 means overtime.

Barcelona possessed the bulk of the ball as Milan owned the bulk of the ideas, and game’s best chances. The Rossoneri didn’t just defend, they picked their spots and switched the play. Stephan El Shaarawy and Riccardo Montolivo looked world class, but more surprising, Xavi was loose with the ball and Lionel Messi looked like an ordinary joe who wouldn’t crack Milan’s starting 11.

Kevin-Prince Boateng’s 56th minute goal came off a clear handball by Milan, but there was no doubting the quality of Muntari’s.

A lovely combination with El Shaarawy sets up the second Ghanian goal scorer for Milan, and summoned pandemonium at the San Siro…

Shocking stuff ...

Toni Kroos’ opener in Bayern Munich’s 3-1 demoliton of Arsenal ...

Burak Yilmaz with a nice flick and a goal in Galatasaray’s 1-1 tie with Schalke 04. His seventh goal, tied with Cristiano Ronaldo for tournament lead ...

5 comments

Efrahim Fernandez

commented on: February 21, 2013 at 7:56 a.m.

Barcelona is at times very limited . Possession for possession sakes only with square passes and back passes allows well organized teams to Park the bus in front of their goal making it difficult to penetrate. A Spanish commentator said he counted only 6 balls forward to players in threatening positions.Barca plays in only one rhythm, the best teams are able to change rhythms. Speed up or slow the game down , play more direct or indirect. They need to occasionally be more direct to stretch defenses. BAYERN , MANU OR MADRID have rhythm.

Stephanie Reitano

commented on: February 21, 2013 at 8:56 a.m.

Not a handball. More like a face ball. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yA88zFlU0jM

Gus Keri

commented on: February 21, 2013 at 11:42 a.m.

It was a handball but it was unintentional. He was moving his body away when the ball deflected off his arm. he didn't even see it coming. He thought the ball was going straight at goal. Good call be the red to allow the goal.

I w Nowozeniuk

commented on: February 21, 2013 at 12:33 p.m.

Arms up in the air is a handball, ref should have not allowed the goal...AC defensive tactics were spot on for 90 minutes.

Gus Keri

commented on: February 21, 2013 at 1:21 p.m.

"Arms up in the air" is a handball if he was defending. But he wasn't. He was trying to avoid the ball. He was trying to get away from the ball's path.

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