Serie A - Milan scrap to win over Fiorentina

Eurosport - Sun, 18 Jan 14:21:00 2009

Milan closed the gap on Serie A leaders Internazionale to six points with a 1-0 win over Fiorentina at the San Siro.

FOOTBALL 2008-2009 Serie A Milan Milan-Fiorentina Pato Beckham - 0

Brazilian striker Alexandre Pato (pictured left) got the only goal of the game when he drilled home a seventh-minute shot from just inside the box.

Milan lie third after the match, two points behind Juventus but still two wins adrift of Inter.

The Rossoneri took the lead on seven minutes when David Beckham - pictured here on the right and making his home debut - won the ball on the edge of the Fiorentina box after his cross was blocked.

Marek Jankulovski quickly slid the ball left to Pato, who calmly picked his spot and rifled a low drive off in inside of the far post.

Four minutes later Jankulovski stung the palms of Marco Storari - filling in for the injured Sebastien Frey - while Pato thought he should have had a penalty when he went to ground under a shoulder challenge from Juan Vargas.

Fiorentina got back into the match and mostly threatened through the impressive Stevan Jovetic, who put one shot wide and was - along with Mario Santana - a constant thorn in the side of Milan's defenders.

Riccardo Montolivio also went close for the visitors but Milan created most of the chances and were unlucky not to add to their tally through a Pato bicycle kick, a Beckham drive that Storari palmed away and two efforts from Kaka that were blocked after the Manchester City target went on powerful runs.

Kaka, who is the subject of a £100 million-plus enquiry from City, also thought he should have had a penalty but clearly dived and was lucky to escape a booking.

The second half was more even with Fiorentina forcing good saves from Abiatti through Santana and former Milan striker Alberto Gilardino.

Wily Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti sensed the danger and narrowed his formation by bringing off Clarence Seedorf for Mathieu Flamini, packing the midfield to limit Fiorentina's marauding wide players.

Beckham, meanwhile, was in fine form both from dead ball and open play situations and played 80 minutes before he was replaced by Philippe Senderos.

The defensive ploy was the right decision.

Aside from a late chance that Jovetic hesitated to take, allowing Maldini to block, and despite Jankulovski's late dismissal for a second yellow card after kicking the ball away, Milan shut the game out to consolidate third place.

In the early Saturday kick off in Serie A, a 75th-minute goal by Liechtenstein striker Mario Frick gave Siena a 1-0 home win over struggling Reggina.

Frick latched on to a long ball, beat defenders Carlos Valdez and Maurizio Lanzaro and placed his finish past keeper Andrea Campagnolo.

Reggina stay second bottom although could slip to the foot of the table if beat Napoli at home on Sunday, while Siena rise to 14th.

Reda Maher / Eurosport

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  1. kaka khodet gofti ieki az arezooham bazi kenare beckhame pas va3 chi mikhai beri ?

    From amirali_imani, on Mon 19 Jan 8:34PM

  2. guys guys go see wikipedia n search for kaka..its said there kaka already in mancs LOL

    From juyn z, on Mon 19 Jan 6:46AM

  3. Kaka` we need you at Milan, please don't go! You said you once said you wanted to end your career at Milan, so keep your promise. Milan fans love you.

    From EMA*, on Sun 18 Jan 8:48PM

  4. i knew dis might com up someday.
    Nothings is permanent.kaka has come a long way with milan and a very influencial playa in d team.
    i hop he doesnt leave d team for money.
    1kaka 1milan

    From zigzag042000, on Sun 18 Jan 8:38PM

  5. i knew dis might com up someday.
    Nothings is permanent.kaka has come a long way with milan and a very influencial playa in d team.
    i hop he doesnt leave d team for money.
    1kaka 1milan

    From zigzag042000, on Sun 18 Jan 8:34PM

  6. kaka is going no where

    From Chocomilo, on Sun 18 Jan 4:12PM

  7. Fans need to realise that the average player these days does not give a monkey's about the club and loyalty, Kaka's commission on a E100 million transfer is a big sum. More interestingly, well done DAVID BECKHAM, those magic little touches that change games....

    From Tarquinius S, on Sun 18 Jan 11:32AM

  8. I love Milan.

    From avanze, on Sun 18 Jan 4:04AM

  9. David Beckham: my brother, and England`s son. We should be proud that this great man is prepared to work hard to earn his England shirt. He has no need for the money, or the fame because he already has these. He plays for honour, and is a great role model for our children and future generations. We are, all of us, David Beckham. When we see him play, we see ourselves.

    From OsmanK, on Sat 17 Jan 11:33PM

  10. THE FOOTBALL SUPPORTERS OF THE U.K. SHOULD REJOYCE AT THE MIGHTY BUYING OF WORLD STARS I.E ROBHINIO & KAKA AND THE STARS THAT WILL BECKON TO COME TO M.C.F.C. IT JUST SHOWS HOW EMBITTERED THE LIKES OF MAN U ARE ALSO LIVERPOOL & CHELSKI REJOCE BE JOVIAL MAN U SUPPORTERS AS YOU KNOW ITS GREAT THAT KAKA IS COMING TO THE NEW REBORN CLUB OF MANCHESTER INSTEAD OF CHELSKI OR LIVERPOOL NOW THE BBC`s M.0.T.D. CAN REALISE {DORK HEAD JOCK HANSEN & BIG NOSE LINEKEAR} WILL SEE THAT THERE ARE TWO MANCHESTER TEAMS AND I HOPE MARK HUGHES SHUN

    From mcpluker, on Sat 17 Jan 9:23AM

  11. Money runs the world. No one can resist 150 mil. euros

    From Spase T, on Sat 17 Jan 9:16AM

  12. Kaka, u once said you want to end your life as a clergy man, Please go to Man City and make that money so that u can help the needy around the world. It`s your call don`t let it fall. Eto`o is coming next season to join you then, Man City is going to compete for the premiere ship title and the champions league. You are a child of God. Stay blessed Kaka.

    From Sikod, on Sat 17 Jan 7:41AM

  13. Kaka, you would become the 2nd Sheva....

    From massimo, on Sat 17 Jan 7:20AM

  14. Kaka!!! PLS don`t go!!! no money in the world worths our Kaka and there is no replecement for you....

    From massimo, on Sat 17 Jan 7:19AM

  15. please kaka, stay in milan !
    nothing player in world like you !
    you are the best player in milan , and world .
    no ronaldo , no messi but you ..
    in milan you find the love not money !
    milan need you , fans need you , many childern crying if you gone , me too..
    please stay in milan and became the real CAPTAINS milan .
    i believe you can ..

    WE NEED YOU STAY !

    From muhamad, on Sat 17 Jan 4:56AM

  16. kaka wants to stay but ancelotti wants the money! its so obvious..hmm

    From afiq a, on Sat 17 Jan 4:23AM

  17. kak isa al aloada kak!!!

    From Gooner rules ok, on Sat 17 Jan 12:49AM

  18. Am a very fan of AC Milan and a very big fan of Kaka because of his life style outside the field.......I Love Kaka for that....
    Going to the issue of Man city and kaka...No player on earth is worth that amount of money.
    My dear fans of soccer, soccer is no longer soccer..............Since these billionaires came into soccer it has lost its ingredients.
    The import of foreign stars by the rich clubs into the premiership, yes increases the competitive nature of the premiership and makes it more exciting but affects the English national team.
    The days of great football and football matches are gone................

    From EmmanuelK, on Sat 17 Jan 12:33AM

  19. We all need a little kaka occasionally.........

    From Nicholas, on Sat 17 Jan 12:23AM

  20. screw man city !!! i hope man city gets relagated !!! if they kate away kaka all ac milan fans will hate man city and will protast

    From Josh, on Fri 16 Jan 11:25PM
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