Milan temporarily closed the gap on league-leaders Inter to seven points by comfortably beating Palermo 3-0 at San Siro, Kaka scoring twice from the penalty spot.
Milan 3-0 Palermo
Milan were in excellent form coming into this game, having won three on the bounce, and five of their last six. However, the Rossoneri injury list was still long, as Gattuso, Borriello, Nesta, Kaladze, Bonera, Abbiati, Antonini, and Pato were missing. Mathieu Flamini continued at right back, while Pippo Inzaghi started as the lone frontman.
Palermo were also in good shape, having taken 13 points out of a possible 18. The Sicilians had no injury problems, but they were without hard-man defender Moris Carrozzieri, who could face a long spell out of the game after testing positive for cocaine this week. Fabrizio Miccoli and Edinson Cavani launched the attack.
First Half
Milan attacked right from the start, and on eight minutes were handed a golden opportunity to take the lead. The referee controversially awarded a penalty after a coming-together in the area between Massimo Ambrosini and Mattia Cassani. Kaka stepped up and made no mistake, side-footing the ball low to Marco Amelia's left.
The Rossoneri doubled their lead 10 minutes later. Again Ambrosini was involved, as he got in behind the Palermo defence, and crossed for an unmarked Inzaghi at the back post, who easily headed the ball past Amelia.
Kaka tested Amelia from long range, and then released David Beckham in on goal, but the Englishman's finish was disappointing, as he blazed well over with Inzaghi unmarked square.
It took until the half-hour mark for Palermo to threaten, with Miccoli blasting inches wide from 30 yards out.
Milan controlled the tempo for almost the entire half, and just before the whistle it could have been three as Kaka whipped a 20-yard curler just past the far post.
Palermo knew they had a mountain to climb, and made a bold attacking move at the break, introducing young striker Abel Hernandez for Nocerino, and going 4-3-3, with Miccoli tucked in behind two Uruguayans.
The game opened up as a result, and Kaka, having skinned Simon Kjaer, twice went close to making it 3-0. Moments later, the mountain became even steeper for the away side, as Cesare Bovo saw red for two yellow cards after fouling Kaka.
Milan were in total control. Seedorf fired just wide, before Milan were awarded a second penalty on 55 minutes. This time it was clear, as Kaka was pulled back by Federico Balzaretti. The Brazilian stepped up again, and sent Amelia the wrong way.
The home side eased off a little after the third goal, and both Ronaldinho and Andriy Shevchenko were handed some playing time. On 73 minutes it could have been four, as Pirlo rifled a daisycutter just wide.
Gianluca Zambrotta cut in from the left and forced a save out of substitute goalkeeper Samir Ujkani, but the game finished 3-0. Milan close the gap on leaders Inter to seven points.
Teams
Milan: Dida; Flamini, Maldini, Favalli, Zambrotta; Beckham (Cardacio 78), Pirlo, Ambrosini; Kaka, Seedorf (Ronaldinho 63); Inzaghi (Shevchenko 66)
Palermo: Amelia (Ujkani 63); Cassani, Kjaer, Bovo, Balzaretti; Migliaccio, Liverani, Nocerino (Hernandez 46); Simplicio; Cavani, Miccoli (Mchedlidze 56)
Goals
Kaka pen 9 (M)
Inzaghi 18 (M)
Kaka 55 (M)
Red Card
Bovo 48 (P)
Milan 3-0 Palermo
Milan were in excellent form coming into this game, having won three on the bounce, and five of their last six. However, the Rossoneri injury list was still long, as Gattuso, Borriello, Nesta, Kaladze, Bonera, Abbiati, Antonini, and Pato were missing. Mathieu Flamini continued at right back, while Pippo Inzaghi started as the lone frontman.
Palermo were also in good shape, having taken 13 points out of a possible 18. The Sicilians had no injury problems, but they were without hard-man defender Moris Carrozzieri, who could face a long spell out of the game after testing positive for cocaine this week. Fabrizio Miccoli and Edinson Cavani launched the attack.
First Half
Milan attacked right from the start, and on eight minutes were handed a golden opportunity to take the lead. The referee controversially awarded a penalty after a coming-together in the area between Massimo Ambrosini and Mattia Cassani. Kaka stepped up and made no mistake, side-footing the ball low to Marco Amelia's left.
The Rossoneri doubled their lead 10 minutes later. Again Ambrosini was involved, as he got in behind the Palermo defence, and crossed for an unmarked Inzaghi at the back post, who easily headed the ball past Amelia.
Kaka tested Amelia from long range, and then released David Beckham in on goal, but the Englishman's finish was disappointing, as he blazed well over with Inzaghi unmarked square.
It took until the half-hour mark for Palermo to threaten, with Miccoli blasting inches wide from 30 yards out.
Milan controlled the tempo for almost the entire half, and just before the whistle it could have been three as Kaka whipped a 20-yard curler just past the far post.
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Palermo knew they had a mountain to climb, and made a bold attacking move at the break, introducing young striker Abel Hernandez for Nocerino, and going 4-3-3, with Miccoli tucked in behind two Uruguayans.
The game opened up as a result, and Kaka, having skinned Simon Kjaer, twice went close to making it 3-0. Moments later, the mountain became even steeper for the away side, as Cesare Bovo saw red for two yellow cards after fouling Kaka.
Milan were in total control. Seedorf fired just wide, before Milan were awarded a second penalty on 55 minutes. This time it was clear, as Kaka was pulled back by Federico Balzaretti. The Brazilian stepped up again, and sent Amelia the wrong way.
The home side eased off a little after the third goal, and both Ronaldinho and Andriy Shevchenko were handed some playing time. On 73 minutes it could have been four, as Pirlo rifled a daisycutter just wide.
Gianluca Zambrotta cut in from the left and forced a save out of substitute goalkeeper Samir Ujkani, but the game finished 3-0. Milan close the gap on leaders Inter to seven points.
Teams
Milan: Dida; Flamini, Maldini, Favalli, Zambrotta; Beckham (Cardacio 78), Pirlo, Ambrosini; Kaka, Seedorf (Ronaldinho 63); Inzaghi (Shevchenko 66)
Palermo: Amelia (Ujkani 63); Cassani, Kjaer, Bovo, Balzaretti; Migliaccio, Liverani, Nocerino (Hernandez 46); Simplicio; Cavani, Miccoli (Mchedlidze 56)
Goals
Kaka pen 9 (M)
Inzaghi 18 (M)
Kaka 55 (M)
Red Card
Bovo 48 (P)
( Anthony Sormani / Goal )
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