Manchester United scored a goal but couldn't afford to be complacent.
They were facing AC Milan—a team that had suffered setbacks this season, losing key players.
Yet the young rising stars on Milan were fierce and relentless.
"Pirlo!"
Gattuso snatched the ball fiercely from Giggs and passed it sideways.
Both Gattuso and Giggs fell to the ground after their intense duel.
Pirlo received the ball without hesitation and immediately launched a long pass.
He sent the ball toward the open space behind Manchester United's defense, allowing Suker and Kaká to chase after it.
The pass targeted an open area near United's right back.
Suker was already sprinting.
Suker ran powerfully, with Vidić chasing closely.
Vidić tried to slow him by grabbing and pulling, but Suker's strong legs kept him half a step ahead.
"This guy's impossible to stop!" Vidić complained while chasing.
As the ball neared, Suker used his toes to control it perfectly.
Manchester United's defense had retreated to their positions.
Evra and Vidić cautiously approached Suker from each side.
Suker controlled the ball and searched for their weak points.
Suddenly, he stepped forward sharply.
Evra and Vidić quickly closed in, trying to block him.
But Suker didn't touch the ball—he tapped with his left foot, twisted his body, and flicked it sideways.
Vidić realized the danger and chased after him.
Yet Suker kept half a step ahead.
He swung his right foot.
"Block it!"
The Manchester United goalkeeper, Van der Sar, quickly reacted and lowered his body to save.
But Suker's right foot gently slid the ball between Vidić's legs.
"Nutmeg!" the Italian commentator Aldo Serena shouted excitedly.
Just as Suker tried to spin and dash forward, Evra caught up and blocked him.
Suker collided with Evra and couldn't break through.
Van der Sar trapped the ball beneath him.
"Damn it!"
Suker rubbed his sore nose.
The constant stops and turns were tiring his body.
Evra's fast follow-up was tough to handle; just one slower step and Suker would have broken free.
Van der Sar gave Evra a thumbs up, impressed.
Still, inside, Van der Sar was a bit shaken.
Suker had nearly spun past.
One or two times might be okay, but repeated attempts would wear them down.
"Attack! Extend the lead!" Van der Sar shouted as he kicked the ball forward.
At this point, the team could only rely on their forwards.
Manchester United's attacks were still led by Modrić.
But Modrić was calm—holding possession, looking for chances without rushing.
He kept passing in midfield, with no immediate attack planned.
But behind Modrić, Carrick was restless.
Eager to prove himself, he wanted to take control of midfield and use his long passes to increase the lead.
Ignoring Modrić's signal, Carrick received a pass and suddenly launched a long ball forward.
The sudden change surprised even his teammates.
Modrić usually controlled the midfield pace—this abrupt change was unlike him.
Rooney didn't chase the ball, Ronaldo didn't catch up, and Giggs threw up his hands, shouting angrily at Carrick:
"What kind of pass is that?"
Carrick was embarrassed.
Though the ball reached empty space, the teammates were clearly out of sync.
Modrić glanced at Carrick, then silently dropped back to defend.
On the sidelines, Ferguson, chewing gum, frowned sharply at Carrick.
Losing the ball so easily without pressure was unacceptable.
That pass practically handed possession back to AC Milan.
"Don't rush!" Pirlo nearly dropped back to defense to receive the ball.
With a quick one-two pass with Gattuso, he escaped United's front pressure.
As Pirlo advanced, Suker and Kaká were tightly marked.
"No passing space!" Pirlo felt frustrated.
Manchester United's defenders were alert, immediately closing down Milan's forwards.
There seemed no chance to attack.
But then Pirlo noticed Suker dropping back deliberately.
"Pass it here!"
Suker moved back near midfield and signaled for the ball.
Pirlo passed directly.
Suker controlled the ball as Modrić pressed from behind.
Suker slightly leaned back, using his back to shield the ball.
Modrić was 173 cm tall, but Suker was 182 cm—about 10 cm taller, giving Suker the advantage.
Suker acted as a wall in midfield and passed the ball to Seedorf on the left side, who could push forward smoothly.
Suker then moved to the wing to support.
Seedorf dribbled diagonally toward the middle, then passed to Suker on the left wing.
Suker stopped the ball steadily and looked up toward the penalty area.
Kaká and Seedorf pressed Manchester United's defense near the penalty area line.
Modrić and Carrick watched Suker closely.
Originally in a dropped position, Suker suddenly straightened and prepared to explode forward.
Modrić instinctively glanced sideways and saw Pirlo making a quick run forward.
Modrić tried a side step to intercept Suker's pass.
But Suker suddenly lowered his body and sprinted again.
He slid the ball between Modrić and Carrick and burst forward with explosive speed.
"Stop him!" Modrić shouted.
He and Carrick rushed to close in.
But Suker was too fast, squeezing through before they could converge.
"Suker breaks through!!"
Manchester United's defense immediately went on high alert.
Ferguson furrowed his brow, clenched his fist, looking deeply concerned.
Suker angled forward and near the defense, suddenly feinted and charged through between Vidić and Evra.
"Don't let him enter the penalty area!"
Vidić and Evra quickly closed in to block again.
But Suker hesitated briefly while dribbling, lightly tapping the ball and continuing forward.
Meanwhile, Seedorf ran sideways, stole the ball, and looped in from the left wing.
"Disrupted!"
Aldo Serena shouted excitedly.
Milan fans stretched their necks in anticipation.
Evra cursed under his breath and twisted toward Seedorf.
Vidić instinctively retreated toward the goal line.
But turning back, Vidić saw Suker standing still.
"Oh no!"
Vidić twisted and charged at Suker.
At the same time, Seedorf passed the ball back to Suker.
Suker stood his ground and didn't meet the ball.
He watched Vidić's move carefully.
When Vidić overcommitted and stretched his leg, Suker skillfully nudged the ball sideways and moved sharply to the right.
Vidić's weight was forward and he couldn't follow.
He could only watch helplessly as Suker broke through.
After breaking free, Suker quickly adjusted and fired a powerful shot.
Van der Sar stood near the left post, very close.
But he couldn't block effectively.
The ball slipped through the narrow gap between him and the post.
The shot was too fast and sudden.
Van der Sar had no time to react.
His body trembled slightly as the ball hit the net.
Goal!
At 24 minutes, AC Milan leveled the score thanks to Suker's relentless touches and excellent frontcourt coordination with Seedorf.
This precious goal brought Milan back into the game!
"Suker!" Aldo Serena shouted excitedly.
"Manchester United's defense couldn't stop him at all! Look at what he's done alone—dropping back to receive, passing the ball out of danger, following up on the attack, linking brilliantly with Seedorf at the edge of the box, and finally scoring!"
"When Suker stopped and drove forward in place, United's defense completely lost their shape!"
"He knew Vidić would retreat, so he didn't wait around. When Vidić turned to follow, Suker was already ready to nutmeg and open a shooting lane, finishing with a sharp angled shot!"
"This is Suker—unstoppable Suker!"
"Milan fans, rejoice! Look at what your forward has done!"
"He singlehandedly dismantled Manchester United's defense and scored!"
"At 24 minutes in the first half, AC Milan equalized through Suker's goal!"
Aldo serena's voice rang out powerfully.