Filippo Inzaghi scored a late hat-trick to salvage the White Stars a 7-7 draw with the Blue Stars during Andrea Pirlo’s testimonial on Monday.
A star-studded selection of Pirlo’s teammates from Milan, Juventus, New York City and Italy assembled at San Siro for La Notte del Maestro, in a nod to the midfielder’s nickname.
Andriy Shevchenko opened the scoring almost immediately, before his Blue Stars took a 7-3 lead with 19 minutes still to play.
However, Inzaghi came into life in the latter stages, pulling back three goals in a sure sign that his goalscoring prowess hadn’t deserted him.
There was a touching moment with 10 minutes to spare, when Pirlo was replaced on the pitch by his son and Juve teen Niccolo, who also plays in the middle.
White Stars 7-7 Blue Stars
Pato 13, Vieri 32, Del Piero 41, Inzaghi 75, 79, 84, Matri 78 (WS) Shevchenko 1, 44, Quagliarella 6, Cassano 30, Cafu 35, Brocchi 47, Toni 71 (BS)
White Stars: Abbiati, Dida; Bonucci, Chiellini, Costacurta, Favalli, Jankulovski, Maldini, Nesta, Oddo, Simic, Zambrotta, Zanetti; Baronio, Camoranesi, Gattuso, Lampard, Leonardo, Pepe, Pirlo, Rui Costa, Verratti, Vidal; Baggio, Del Piero, Di Natale, Iaquinta, Inzaghi, Matri, Pato, Ronaldo, Totti, Vieri
Blue Stars: Buffon e Storari; Adani, Barzagli, Bonera, Cafu, Diana, Ferrara, Kaladze, Materazzi, Serginho; Pirlo, Albertini, Ambrosini, Brocchi, De Rossi, Diamanti, Marchisio, Perrotta, Seedorf; Borriello, Cassano, Quagliarella, Ronaldinho, Shevchenko, Tevez, Toni, Ventola
mitlnyz
0
Great players assembled. In the past there were diverse talented players not this time around that we have only Ronaldo and Messi.
Elsa98
1
Okay..
The-LeoMessi-CULE123
1
Well...7-7??Yeah its a joke....damn...it would be the perfect match to end one's career....and by the way....where was the defence of the both teams!!!
tinyrossoneri
1
damn the entire squad are all legendary players!!! imagine watching a match like that!
Shina-Ayo
1
He was a box player like CR7. Box player has something special with goals. If Inzaghi played for Real Madrid he would have won many Ballon d'or(s).
dapbiortuz
2
Wow. classic stuff. long time never heard 9f those names, Aimo Stefano Diana and Nicola Ventola..