Serie A - Beckham scores as Milan win

Eurosport - Mon, 26 Jan 02:58:00 2009

David Beckham scored his first goal for Milan as they trounced 10-man Bologna 4-1 in Serie A.

David Beckham celebrates scoring for AC Milan against Bologna in Serie A, January 2009 - 0

The England midfielder, on-loan from LA Galaxy, fired a powerful shot into the top-right corner to cap a flowing counter attack.

Milan were already 3-1 at that point after two goals from Kaka and a close-range finish from Clarence Seedorf overturned Marco Di Vaio's early penalty.

Bologna were a man light for the best part of the match after Gaby Mudingayi was sent off on 40 minutes when he received two yellow cards for crude challenges on Alexandre Pato.

Until the dismissal it was a frantic, end-to-end match with Bologna equal to their more illustrious guests but denied by a string of fine saves from in-form goalkeeper Christian Abbiati.

Abbiati, 31, was the bright hope of Italian goalkeeping until the emergence of Gianluigi Buffon, and his club career stalled when the club signed Dida.

But after returning from loan spells at Torino and Atletico Madrid, Abbiati is surely pushing for a recall to the national team and another good performance saw him deny Di Vaio what would have been a deserved hat-trick.

Despite Abbiati's performance, the praise will be heaped on Beckham - who has improved with each of his three games for the Rossoneri and was given the man-of-the-match award for his hard running and clever use of the ball - and Kaka, whose goals and guile delighted the visiting crowd. The Brazilian even drew applause from Bologna's fans in the light of his decision to shun the cash of Manchester City to stay in Italy.

An exhilarating start saw the hosts take the lead when, on nine minutes, Philippe Senderos was adjudged to have nudged Christian Amoroso after the former Fiorentina man went on a mazy dribble.

Di Vaio emphatically placed the spot-kick into the top right corner, but Milan were level four minutes later when Bologna keeper Francesco Antonioli parried Kaka's shot into the path of Seedorf, who rifled the ball in from an angle on the left.

The visiting side went ahead on 16 minutes when Gianluca Zambrotta burst into the Bologna box and went down in a tangle of legs with defender Davide Bomardini.

Kaka despatched the spot-kick and Milan were in control.

Pato had a much better call for a penalty turned down 60 seconds later when he was clearly tripped by Claudio Terzi, but referee Paolo Tagliavento waved play on.

The pace of the game slowed for a period and the dismissal of Mudingayi ended any hopes of a Bologna comeback.

Two minutes after the Belgium midfielder saw red, Kaka extended his side's lead with a superb individual strike from the edge of the box to the helpless Antonioli's right.

The Brazil star should have sealed his hat-trick when, seven minutes into the second half, he scuffed a finish from close range after a quick break set Seedorf free on the left.

Beckham's goal on the hour mark came from another Seedorf-led counter attack and was sandwiched by two top saves from Abbiati to deny Di Vaio.

Ronaldinho - who must be wondering when his next start is going to come - was sent on for a brief cameo and he almost scored with an audacious lob, while Beckham made Bologna work hard with some good crosses and two shots that narrowly missed the target.

The win puts Milan only three points behind first-placed Juventus and second-placed Internazionale, although Jose Mourinho's side can go top again if they beat Sampdoria later on Sunday.

Reda Maher / Eurosport

Comment 35 - 54 of 74

Sort comments by: Most recent

  1. nice one Glenn - totally agree with you mate

    From Terry D, on Sun 25 Jan 9:18PM

  2. Sorry but Gerrards many times the player Beckham is or was & I am a United fan . I also dont hate Beckham just the BS & you mugs go & read Hello stay out of football ...

    From Glenn T, on Sun 25 Jan 9:12PM

  3. The average age of the milan player is 33. Go figure

    From Melanie, on Sun 25 Jan 8:59PM

  4. yes david doing it again and again , and as for copering him to gerard? no chance! gerard would be did well, if he were allowed to tie davi's shoe laces, nuff said.

    From joe, on Sun 25 Jan 8:52PM

  5. what does the genius have to do to convince the know nothing morons

    From gillian, on Sun 25 Jan 8:45PM

  6. i apologised to you Gianluca i did not mean you - it was aimed at Tarquin (post 27) not you at post 29 - once again sorry - please read post 34

    From Terry D, on Sun 25 Jan 8:42PM

  7. oh Andy please speak to me when you know your facts mate...already covered this twice now,it's getting a bit boring!!!! Don't tell me, you're another man u "fan" who has never been but loves Beckham for what he did for you years ago!!!!!!

    From Terry D, on Sun 25 Jan 8:39PM

  8. Hey it's an italian name... where is the problem?

    I never said in my totaly life that Beckham is my hero, c'mon I'm a Milan fan... there is Maldini, Kaką, Shevchenko, Baresi, Rivera, Van Basten... I don't need another hero... I've only said that I'm happy for him...

    From Gianluca L, on Sun 25 Jan 8:36PM

  9. Sorry World cup not euros

    From Andy B, on Sun 25 Jan 8:27PM

  10. Terry D, was one of those free kicks against Greece to send us to the Euro's???? After being 2-1 down and needed a draw???? Hence Golden Balls??? You TIT!!!!!!!!

    From Andy B, on Sun 25 Jan 8:23PM

  11. David Beckham... He's England Best!

    From Hasherdene, on Sun 25 Jan 8:11PM

  12. Hey on30fm4ny - seems to me that you should be the one wrapped in a nappy,seeing as you have the memory span of a two year old!
    If it wasn't for Beckham getting a red card against the argies in 98 the rest of the squad might of had a chance of winning the world cup.....also can you please remind me exactly what he has done for the England team since that "famous" day? Apart from taking free kicks(which about 1 in 4 actually hit the target!!) and looking in the mirror....

    From Terry D, on Sun 25 Jan 8:03PM

  13. Glenn T, you small minded blind clueless clown.

    Beckham has always been all England's best. He has never pulled on an England shirt without giving his best & when he could have sat back & relaxed he is back playing at a high level, not hanging around in dodgy bars with scally mates getting involved in fights.

    The most technically gifted passing player of his generation.

    David Beckham take a bow.

    From Champions, on Sun 25 Jan 7:58PM

  14. Any truth in the rumour thats flying all over portsmouth that Alain Perrin will return to manage the club before the end of the season?Expect an announcement soon.

    From Pedro, on Sun 25 Jan 7:49PM

  15. Terry D(unce) (ickhead)

    From olliep_1977, on Sun 25 Jan 7:43PM

  16. what puts people off in my view is beckhams celebrity status and the fact he has chosen said status over the game. clearly the fella has still got some serious ability, i reckon if he hadn't joined galaxy in the first place there would be much less hatred towards him. if you forget about his wife and tattoos and the bloody perfume ranges, i wish him the all the best. he's still a top player and a model pro, and there arent many former man utd players i would say that about :)

    From greg, on Sun 25 Jan 7:41PM

  17. Beckham scored against Greece becoz the rest of the team allowed him to run all over the pitch out of position . If Gerrard wasnt covering for him he might have got a chance get a clue stop reading Hello ...

    From Glenn T, on Sun 25 Jan 7:41PM

  18. Most overated English player Ever ... A London media lovee

    From Glenn T, on Sun 25 Jan 7:36PM

  19. Hey Terry D, you've just made me realize why old fashioned nappies are linked with the word "Terry", as in terry-towelling... It's obviously because Terry is synonimous with "full of @#$%"... like nappies.

    If it wasn't for Beckham scoring against Greece, the rest of the squad wouldn't have gone to the world cup. So when they needed to stand up and be counted, they lay down and hid... like England always does.

    From on3ofm4ny, on Sun 25 Jan 7:30PM

  20. i think Posh should join Milan

    From baldhahir, on Sun 25 Jan 7:21PM
Sort comments by: Most recent

Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account