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Chelsea, AC Milan end U.S. tour with draw
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August 01, 2005 13:00 IST

Chelsea and AC Milan drew 1-1 in a friendly match on Sunday as they wrapped up their pre-season tour of the United States.

Striker Didier Drogba [Images] put the English Premier League champions ahead in the second half while playmaker Rui Costa equalised for the beaten Champions League finalists.

England [Images] international Frank Lampard [Images] missed a chance to clinch victory for the Londoners in the 87th minute when he flicked Drogba's deft pass just over the bar.

In a lacklustre first half before a crowd of 35,444 at Giants Stadium neither side came close to scoring.

A Lampard free-kick over the bar and a shot from Milan's Brazilian defender Cafu that flew wide were the only highlights.

Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho made four halftime substitutions and in the 54th minute sent on Glen Johnson for William Gallas, who was hurt in a tackle. Milan made three halftime changes.

In the 64th minute, Ivory Coast forward Drogba, one of the substitutes, barrelled past two tackles on the left and forced his way into the area before firing past Valerio Fiori.

Six minutes later Christian Vieri [Images], just signed from rivals Inter, thought he had scored but was given offside when the ball came down off the bar from an Andrea Pirlo free-kick.

SCORES LEVELLED

But Milan levelled the scores in the 80th minute when Rui Costa held off two challenges in the area before swivelling to curl a shot inside Petr Cech's left-hand post.

Chelsea, who won their first league title in 50 years last season, beat Milan 1-0 last week in Massachusetts and defeated U.S. champions DC United 2-1 in suburban Washington in midweek.

Milan, who were runners-up in Serie A last term beat Chicago Fire of Major League Soccer 3-1 in their second tour match.

Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti said he was happy with his side's performances on tour.

"We played with different tactics today, much more aggressively (than last week)," he added.

He declined to comment on media speculation that Ukrainian striker Andriy Shevchenko was a target for big-spending Chelsea.

Shevchenko missed the U.S. tour to have surgery on a broken cheekbone. Midfielder Kaka [Images] was also absent, resting after playing with Brazil [Images] in the Confederations Cup.

Chelsea coach Mourinho did not attend the post-game news conference at Giants Stadium, telling aides he had nothing to say. Assistant Steve Clarke spoke to reporters only to update them on player fitness.

NO TALKS

However, Chelsea director Peter Kenyon told Reuters he had held no talks with Milan officials about Shevchenko.

Asked if Chelsea were likely to make any more signings before the Premier League starts in two weeks, he replied: "We are continuing to work on (midfielder Michael) Essien and, if that could happen, we would be delighted."

Olympique Lyon chairman Jean-Michel Aulas agreed on Friday to meet Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich to discuss Essien's transfer.

The French champions have put a 45 million-euro tag price on the midfielder.

Asked whether Chelsea were interested in U.S. teenage sensation Freddie Adu, who played for DC United against Chelsea, Kenyon said: "We've seen him, we've watched him, he's obviously got a talent.

"And I'm delighted to say if he was going to come to England that he would be coming to Chelsea. He's definitely a talent, but he's young and has got to develop his skills here."



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