Super Cup go ahead despite Puerta tragedy

The European Super Cup is designed to be a celebration of a new season of continental football, but the showcase event in Monaco has been overshadowed by the tragic death of 22-year-old Sevilla player Antonio Puerta.Sevilla have been stunned by the loss of the versatile left-sided midfielder/defender who collapsed during his team's first league match of the season against Getafe.

Sevilla aim to turn the European Super Cup against AC Milan into a tribute to midfielder Antonio Puerta, who died on 28 August 2007, three days after collapsing in a league match against Getafe.
Super Cup to go ahead despite Puerta tragedy.However, Puerta's death has cast a pall over the club from which it will not be easy to recover.Super Cup opponents AC Milan were one of the first clubs to express their grief at Puerta's death.Sevilla will play the Super Cup in memory of Antonio Puerta and they dedicate it to him.

On 31 August 2007,Sevilla, still grieving from the sudden death of their brilliant young midfielder Antonio Puerta, found themselves on the losing end of an incisive performance by European champions Milan in the UEFA Super Cup in Monaco.
Puerta's tragic death made this a poignant occasion in the Stade Louis II in Monaco, despite the best intentions of the Sevilla fans to remember their hero in rousing fashion while Milan supporters too chanted his name.

The kick-off was proceeded by a period of silence for the 22-year-old. The Sevilla players wore shirts bearing Puerta's name underneath their number, while those on the bench had shirts with the midfielder's squad number 16 on the back.
Despite the poignancy of the occasion, both Sevilla and Milan displayed a determination to win, though the Spaniards' desire was the greater in the first half.

In the 14th minute Renato opened the scoring after more poor defending by Milan. Duda took a corner from the right and the Brazilian midfielder found himself unmarked at the far post to head down past Dida in the Milan goal.
Milan were considerably more up for it in the second half as Sevilla's heads dropped.With Seedorf going on some useful forays, Milan started to dominate and the equaliser came in the 56th minute, converted expertly by Inzaghi after some outstanding work by Rino Gattuso who produced a mouthwatering cross for Inzaghi to bullet home a header.Within six minutes, while Gattuso was off the field getting treatment for a head injury, .

From deep in his own half Andrea Pirlo flighted a long searching pass into space on the left and the Czech full-back, at full pelt, met the ball on the half-volley and sent it swerving beyond Andres Palop's grasp.
Kaka ended the contest three minutes from time after having his heels clipped by Ivica Dragutinovic. Palop parried the Brazilian's spot-kick but the ball rebounded nicely for Kaka who nodded home for Milan's third.