Beckham Plays 89 Minutes in AC Milan Debut
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Tuesday 13th January, 2009 13 Armstrong arrives Beckham plays 89 minutes in Australia ADELAIDE, Australia (AP) - Lance Armstrong arrived in Australia on “I believe my in AC Milan debut Sunday a few hours after his Astana team, and a few form is as good by Andrew Dampf England’s national team by coach Fabio manager told me before the match (that from within the area as Milan defend- days ahead of when Tour as it ever was for ROME (AP) - David Beckham was Capello. I would be starting).” ers Giuseppe Favalli and Marek Down Under officials indi- this early in given a surprising starting nod in his Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti said Flamini replaced Beckham one Jankulovski looked on helplessly. cated he would. official AC Milan debut against AS Saturday that it would be “difficult” to minute from the end. Beckham took his first free kick in The Astana squad flew January,” Roma on Sunday and played 89 min- start the former Manchester United and “The match went well for him,” the 41st from the right of Roma’s area, in from Europe via Armstrong said. utes, contributing with a solid - if not Real Madrid player because he had Ancelotti said. “He showed what he near the sideline - a perfect position for Singapore in preparation outstanding - performance in a 2-2 draw. been inactive for two months. However, showed in training, that he is disci- his famous right foot - but his kick was for the UCI ProTour race, “My fitness is “I felt good in the game, very strong he lined him up nonetheless in his tra- plined and plays the ball simply. headed away by Roma. which starts on Jan. 18 and probably ahead and I enjoyed it,” Beckham said. “I ditional spot on the right wing, leaving Beckham is a Milan player, he will play A minute later, Beckham came marks the return of seven- of where it would enjoyed playing with these players and Mathieu Flamini and Massimo with us for two months.” across to take a corner from the left, time Tour de France win- in this city. We played some good foot- Ambrosini on the bench at the start. Beckham rejected speculation that and his low attempt was again headed ner Armstrong to profes- have been other ball and I enjoyed playing Roma.” “I never expected to play from the he plans to remain with Milan beyond away by Roma. sional competition four years, but I’ve The night, however, belonged to beginning of the game,” the loan period. “We need (Marco) Borriello for years after he retired. Mirko Vucinic and Alexandre Pato, who Beckham said. “I’ve “My contract runs through March Beckham’s crosses,” Ancelotti said. Armstrong was said by been training a each scored twice - Vucinic for Roma been working on 8,” he said. “After that I have to go back “But for the moment we have to be race officials early Sunday lot earlier than and Pato for Milan. my fitness and I to the Galaxy.” happy for Pato. With Ronaldinho I have to be still training at his Beckham joined Milan on a felt good dur- Wearing No. 32, Beckham was posi- asked him to play in a more central base in Hawaii, and that he the previous two-month loan spell from ing the tioned alongside Andrea Pirlo and position.” might not arrive in years as well. the Los Angeles Galaxy, match. Clarence Seedorf in midfield - with Beckham has now played in three Australia until midweek. hoping to maintain The Kaka, Ronaldinho and Pato up front in of Europe’s top leagues, following the But Armstrong arrived his form and be attack. Premier League and the Spanish called to The 80,000-seat Stadio Olimpico was league. nearly full. Although there was no sign “There is a more tactical level in of Capello, Italy coach Marcello Lippi Italy,but I think I adapted pretty well,” did attend. he said, adding that he had little trouble “(My aim) is to play as many games communicating with his teammates as possible, work on my fitness and to because “most of them speak good be a part of this Milan team,” Beckham English.” said. “I am happy to be playing with Beckham came back out for the sec- such a great club and these great play- ond half and Milan equalized in the ers.” 48th, with Pato tapping in a cross from Beckham began the game in a Kaka as Roma waited for an offside call largely defensive role. He came forward that never came. for Milan’s first free kick five minutes Beckham took another corner from in, but Ronaldinho took it instead and the left in the 51st and put the ball on Lance Armstrong (Files) banged the ball into Roma’s wall. Ronaldinho’s foot by the far post but the “If other players feel like they can Brazilian volleyed high. later Sunday at Sydney ment.” score on a free kick, I’ll let them do it,” Pato put Milan ahead in the 53rd, international airport, about Cancer survivor Beckham said. “I’ll get a chance.” dribbling past Roma’s defense on a a 75-minute flight from Armstrong is using his Beckham’s first significant contri- counterattack and chipping the ball Adelaide. He was accompa- return to cycling to further bution came in the 13th, when he set up over goalkeeper Alexander Doni for his nied off his flight by sever- the fight against cancer Kaka with a long pass that curled eighth score of the season. al Australian Federal Police worldwide. While in around a defender, although Kaka Beckham took another corner in and security guards. Adelaide he will appear at quickly lost possession. the 66th, and passed a short ball to “I believe my form is as two major functions, In the 20th, Beckham stole the ball Seedorf, who then gave it back to the good as it ever was for this including one run by the from Vucinic and again sent Milan for- Englishman and Beckham put a shot early in January,” Cancer Council of South ward to no avail. toward the target that Doni had little Armstrong said. “My fit- Australia. AC Milan soccer star David Beckham, of Britain, controls the ball during the Serie A soccer match between AS Roma and AC Milan, at the Olympic stadium in Rome, Italy, Sunday, Jan. 11, Two minutes later, Vucinic took a trouble handling in front of the post. ness is probably ahead of As well as the Tour 2009. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) pass from John Arne Riise and scored where it would have been Down Under, his race other years, but I’ve been schedule for 2009 will training a lot earlier than include the Giro d’Italia the previous years as well. and an attempt to win an 14-year-old Theekshana top scores for Devananda “I just don’t want to get unprecedented eighth Tour clobbered too bad. That’s de France. by Reemus Fernando Wijesuriya anchored Ananda Scores: Bandaranaike take first day’s my main motivation for As well as Astana, the College innings with an unbeaten St. Benedict’s 179 all out in honours training hard. I don’t have Spanish Euskaltel Euskadi 14-year-old Rishika 58 runs for them to post 152 for six 66.2 overs (Sangaran Nandhalal Bandaranaike College, delusions of grandeur. I team and the French Theekshana top scored with 93 wickets at close after a top order 42,Ashen Sirimanne 49, Eranga Gampaha had first day’s honours hope I get in the race and Bouygues team arrived on runs and combined for a valuable collapse placed them on 59 for four Ratnayake 23; Dhinal Dhambarage when they posted 218 runs in reply get reacclimatized to the Sunday while AG2R La 180 run partnership for the fourth at one stage. Earlier Richmond 4/40, Shameera Weerasinghe 2/37, to St. Servatius’ 169 in their Inter- tempo and the speed and Mondiale and Caisse wicket with Ramesh Lakshitha College were bowled out for 106 on Rosco Thattil 2/09) School match commenced at what it’s like to be around D’Epargne flew in on (92) as Devananda College posted the first day of their Under-19 St. Joseph’s 92 for 4 in 31 Gampaha yesterday. 200 guys and a fast-moving Saturday. 310 all out on the first day of their match at Ananda Mawatha yester- overs (Shameera Weerasinghe 44 Scores: group. The six stages of the Inter School Under-19 match day. Matheesha Perera impressed n.o, Prageeth Fernando 2/15, St. Servatius’ 169 all out in “It’s been such a long Tour Down Under run from against Revata College at with a six wicket haul. Dilanka Auwardt 2/20) 47.2 overs (U.H. Ashan 38, Oshan break. This is the longest Jan. 20 to 25, with a criteri- Balapitiya yesterday. Theekshana Kalhara 35, Lahiru Kokila 35, break I’ve had. But ... it’s um in Adelaide scheduled faced 127 balls and hit 16 fours in Scores: Cambrians post 316 for Chathura Jayan 25; Lasitha nervousness and excite- for Jan. 18. his knock. Richmond 106 all out in 42.2 six declared Premasiri 4/19, Malindu Perera In reply Revata College were 98 overs (Hemil Sarathchandra 22; 2/41) for eight at close. Matheesha Perera 6/32, Madumal Three big half-centuries from Bandaranaike 218 all out in Scores: Jayaratne 2/32) Isuru Thilina (83), Dilan 44.1 overs (Samitha Maduranga 42, Devananda 310 all out in 72.1 Ananda 152 for 6 in 43.4 overs Chandima (78) and Shehan Shamendra Madumal 32, Dinuka overs (Rishika Theekshana 93, (Geshan Wimaladharma 39, Jayasuriya (51 n.o) helped Prince Nalitha 32, Tharindu Jeevana 51; Ramesh Lakshitha 92, Pulina Sameera Wijesuriya 58n.o; T.