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Milan notch up a third consecutive Serie A draw in a frenetic 1-1 against Parma at San Siro with Clarence Seedorf and Andrea Pisanu.

The Rossoneri may be unstoppable in Europe with a 2-1 win over Benfica midweek, but they were coming into this game on the back of two consecutive Serie A draws. Ronaldo remains sidelined along with Paolo Maldini and Serginho, but former Parma hitman Alberto Gilardino's misfiring ways and bitter row with the San Siro faithful hung over this match. The Gialloblu last won here in 1996 and had lost six on the trot at the Stadio Meazza. Domenico Morfeo was ruled out, so Bernardo Corradi took centre stage.

Pippo Inzaghi just failed to get on the end of a Massimo Oddo cross, then an Andrea Pirlo free kick also skimmed the head of SuperPippo. Kaka went flying down the right flank between a group of defenders and cut back for Inzaghi's shot at the goalkeeper, which was incorrectly flagged offside.

There was a scare for Milan, as Andrea Pisanu threaded through for Corradi and former Parma star Daniele Bonera's sliding tackle closed him down. The move continued and Nelson Dida plucked a looping Corradi header out of the air.

Moments later a spectacular Pisanu chest and volley from the D stung Dida's palms and Corradi was offside when he pounced on the loose ball.

Inzaghi was very unlucky not to break through, as a Massimo Ambrosini ball flicked over the defence was volleyed on to the upright from six yards. Alessandro Nesta surprisingly scored last week against Siena and nearly did it again with another fine volley, but it was accidentally cleared off the line by teammate Bonera.

Ambrosini also had an excellent opportunity. He had his back to goal when he gathered Clarence Seedorf's pass, spun round surrounded by defenders like a seasoned striker and fired inches wide of the upright.

Milan eventually took the lead with a bizarre goal. A corner kick took a few deflections and Inzaghi's half-volley from Kaka was parried by Nicola Pavarini, but while the Castellini tried to clear the ball practically off the line, it ricocheted in off Seedorf's shinpad.

Dida's howler handed Siena a point last week and he almost gave Parma an immediately equaliser in first half stoppages. He pushed a cross straight into the path of Stefano Morrone, but the Gialloblu midfielder slipped at the crucial moment and failed to turn into an empty net!

After the restart Kaka's disguised pass surprised even Pirlo, while Dida was booked for time-wasting. Parma Coach Mimmo Di Carlo made two attacking substitutions in a bid to turn the game around.

Ambrosini crossed for an Oddo volley, but Parma drew level with a fine team move on 73 minutes. Reginaldo skipped past Nesta on the left flank with some delightful footwork and crossed low for Pisanu to tap in between two defenders from six yards.

Pavarini parried a cross into the path of Seedorf, who fired well over, and Carlo Ancelotti threw on Gilardino. But Pisanu nearly completed his brace with a volley that was charged down of a sliding Marek Jankulovski's back.

It was end to end stuff in these 15 minutes with both teams pushing for the victory. Kaka's stop and volley was straight at the goalkeeper. Soon after the Brazilian was furious with the referee, as he shrugged off Morrone's foul and had space to run on goal, but Antonio Damato stopped play to book the Parma midfielder. From the resulting Pirlo free kick, Inzaghi couldn't quite make contact from close range.

Parma had another great chance on 87 minutes, as Fernando Couto was effectively playing as a centre-forward and turned a free header off target. Moments later they went even closer, as Corradi got to the byline and cut back for Reginaldo, but the ball was behind him.

Pavarini was also booked for time-wasting and Nesta's decisive tackle stopped Reginaldo setting up Corradi totally clear on goal. Kaka flicked through the ball for Gilardino and the Gialloblu goalkeeper rushed out to smother it.

There was a chaotic move with Kaka and Ambrosini's cross from the byline, but Inzaghi, Seedorf and Gilardino all had shots charged down in a frenetic rush for the ball.

Deep into stoppages a long move with Pirlo's chip over the defence saw Emerson's effort charged down and Gilardino's reflex volley parried by a desperate Pavarini.

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Milan: Dida; Oddo (Cafu 79), Nesta, Bonera, Jankulovski; Brocchi (Emerson 67), Pirlo, Ambrosini; Kakà, Seedorf (Gilardino 75); Inzaghi

Parma: Pavarini; Zenoni, Falcone, Couto, Castellini; Pisanu (Coly 79), Dessena (Matteini 64), Parravicini (Cigarini 59), Morrone; Reginaldo, Corradi

Ref: Damato

Channnel 4