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Fiorentina 0:1 AC Milan - match report Scorer: Pato 77 (M) Alexandre Pato gave Milan a crucial victory away to Fiorentina, but the youngster was stretchered off with a potentially serious injury. This was essentially a play-off for fourth place between two teams finally finding their form. Fresh from a rescheduled midweek 1-0 away win at Reggina, the Rossoneri were without Ronaldo and Gennaro Gattuso, so former Viola man Cristian Brocchi had a rare start. Fiorentina's Marco Donadel sat out a ban and Fabio Liverani was sidelined, but they were coming off four straight wins. Milan have traditionally struggled at the Stadio Franchi, held 2-2 last season and with just one win here in their last five visits. Having said that, the last time they failed to score was a 4-0 thrashing in January 2001. There was a minute's silence before kick-off and Milan wore black armbands out of respect for President Silvio Berlusconi's mother, who died this weekend aged 97. Giampaolo Pazzini had the first shot on goal in the opening minute smothered by Zeljko Kalac, who was given the gloves despite Nelson Dida's return to fitness. There was chaos in the Viola box on seven minute as the Rossoneri had several chances in one move to score. Alberto Gilardino flicked the ball over Sebastien Frey and Manuel Pasqual's goalline clearance was almost an own goal, ricocheting off the inside of the far post! The move continued and Massimo Ambrosini's effort was charged down. Adrian Mutu went close as well soon after, his first header clattering against the near post, the follow-up looping but not enough to beat Kalac in a splendid save. Clarence Seedorf flashed a shot over and Martin Jorgensen's goalline clearance kept out Kakha Kaladze's header from a corner kick. Kaka pounced on a Per Kroldrup error and Gilardino fired a snapshot across the face of goal, but at the other end Mario Alberto Santana just failed to get a decisive touch from close range thanks to Paolo Maldini's protection. Gilardino was clear on goal from the D, but completely scuffed his right-foot shot so that it went well wide. A Massimo Oddo error sent Riccardo Montolivo on the counter, but Pazzini's finish was charged down inside the box. Moments later Pazzini chested down the ball to hold off Alessandro Nesta and spun round, the rising strike skimming the crossbar. Kaka and Seedorf combined for a classic counter-attack, but Frey did well to smother the Brazilian's finish. Straight after the restart Nesta was extremely fortunate to avoid a straight red card. He was dispossessed by Mutu and chasing the Fiorentina striker twice held him back by his jersey, but because Kaladze was between them and the goalkeeper, it was not considered a clear scoring opportunity and so only a booking. From the resulting free kick Nesta rode his luck again, the ball deflected out for a corner over his shoulder. Oddo dived in to prevent Pazzini getting a header from six yards on Mutu's cross. Alexandre Pato replaced Seedorf, who was struggling with an ankle problem since the first half, but the Dutchman was visibly angry and walked off the field distant from the bench. Maldini charged down a Tomas Ujfalusi attempt, but Kaka skipped past three tackles to fire wide of the near post. It was a very open game and Kalac did brilliantly to parry Mutu's volley at the back post from point-blank range. Emerson came off the bench and beat two Fiorentina players with nutmegs before unleashing a curler just over the bar in a wonderful solo move. Moments later Pato was inches away from getting the decisive touch on an Oddo cross that zipped across the face of goal. Santana wasted a golden opportunity and it proved disastrous. Santana's unnecessary backheel for Montolivo wrecked a great chance and on the counter Milan took the lead. Pato chested down Kaka's cross, controlled it and fired past Frey with his left foot between a crowd of defenders. It was the 18-year-old's fourth goal of the season. Former Milan flop Christian Vieri replaced Montolivo, but Kroldrup needed a desperate sliding tackle to stop Pato getting a second. The Brazilian badly sprained his left ankle as he put his foot down awkwardly and was stretchered off in visible pain. Milan had completed their substitutions, so had to play five minutes of stoppages with 10 men. In the final seconds a corner had both teams packed into the box and it fell to Alessandro Gamberini's header from six yards, but Kalac performed a stunning point-blank reaction save! Fiorentina: Frey; Ujfalusi, Kroldrup, Gamberini, Pasqual; Kuzmanovic, Jorgensen (Gobbi 81), Montolivo (Vieri 78); Santana, Pazzini, Mutu Milan: Kalac; Oddo, Nesta, Kaladze, Maldini; Brocchi (Emerson 72), Pirlo, Ambrosini; Seedorf (Pato 66), Kaka (Favalli 80); Gilardino

Fiorentina 0:1 AC Milan - match report Scorer: Pato 77' (M) Alexandre Pato gave Milan a crucial victory away to Fiorentina, but the youngster was stretchered off with a potentially serious injury. This was essentially a play-off for fourth place between two teams finally finding their form. Fresh from a rescheduled midweek 1-0 away win at Reggina, the Rossoneri were without Ronaldo and Gennaro Gattuso, so former Viola man Cristian Brocchi had a rare start. Fiorentina's Marco Donadel sat out a ban and Fabio Liverani was sidelined, but they were coming off four straight wins. Milan have traditionally struggled at the Stadio Franchi, held 2-2 last season and with just one win here in their last five visits. Having said that, the last time they failed to score was a 4-0 thrashing in January 2001. There was a minute's silence before kick-off and Milan wore black armbands out of respect for President Silvio Berlusconi's mother, who died this weekend aged 97. Giampaolo Pazzini had the first shot on goal in the opening minute smothered by Zeljko Kalac, who was given the gloves despite Nelson Dida's return to fitness. There was chaos in the Viola box on seven minute as the Rossoneri had several chances in one move to score. Alberto Gilardino flicked the ball over Sebastien Frey and Manuel Pasqual's goalline clearance was almost an own goal, ricocheting off the inside of the far post! The move continued and Massimo Ambrosini's effort was charged down. Adrian Mutu went close as well soon after, his first header clattering against the near post, the follow-up looping but not enough to beat Kalac in a splendid save. Clarence Seedorf flashed a shot over and Martin Jorgensen's goalline clearance kept out Kakha Kaladze's header from a corner kick. Kaka pounced on a Per Kroldrup error and Gilardino fired a snapshot across the face of goal, but at the other end Mario Alberto Santana just failed to get a decisive touch from close range thanks to Paolo Maldini's protection. Gilardino was clear on goal from the D, but completely scuffed his right-foot shot so that it went well wide. A Massimo Oddo error sent Riccardo Montolivo on the counter, but Pazzini's finish was charged down inside the box. Moments later Pazzini chested down the ball to hold off Alessandro Nesta and spun round, the rising strike skimming the crossbar. Kaka and Seedorf combined for a classic counter-attack, but Frey did well to smother the Brazilian's finish. Straight after the restart Nesta was extremely fortunate to avoid a straight red card. He was dispossessed by Mutu and chasing the Fiorentina striker twice held him back by his jersey, but because Kaladze was between them and the goalkeeper, it was not considered a clear scoring opportunity and so only a booking. From the resulting free kick Nesta rode his luck again, the ball deflected out for a corner over his shoulder. Oddo dived in to prevent Pazzini getting a header from six yards on Mutu's cross. Alexandre Pato replaced Seedorf, who was struggling with an ankle problem since the first half, but the Dutchman was visibly angry and walked off the field distant from the bench. Maldini charged down a Tomas Ujfalusi attempt, but Kaka skipped past three tackles to fire wide of the near post. It was a very open game and Kalac did brilliantly to parry Mutu's volley at the back post from point-blank range. Emerson came off the bench and beat two Fiorentina players with nutmegs before unleashing a curler just over the bar in a wonderful solo move. Moments later Pato was inches away from getting the decisive touch on an Oddo cross that zipped across the face of goal. Santana wasted a golden opportunity and it proved disastrous. Santana's unnecessary backheel for Montolivo wrecked a great chance and on the counter Milan took the lead. Pato chested down Kaka's cross, controlled it and fired past Frey with his left foot between a crowd of defenders. It was the 18-year-old's fourth goal of the season. Former Milan flop Christian Vieri replaced Montolivo, but Kroldrup needed a desperate sliding tackle to stop Pato getting a second. The Brazilian badly sprained his left ankle as he put his foot down awkwardly and was stretchered off in visible pain. Milan had completed their substitutions, so had to play five minutes of stoppages with 10 men. In the final seconds a corner had both teams packed into the box and it fell to Alessandro Gamberini's header from six yards, but Kalac performed a stunning point-blank reaction save! Fiorentina: Frey; Ujfalusi, Kroldrup, Gamberini, Pasqual; Kuzmanovic, Jorgensen (Gobbi 81), Montolivo (Vieri 78); Santana, Pazzini, Mutu Milan: Kalac; Oddo, Nesta, Kaladze, Maldini; Brocchi (Emerson 72), Pirlo, Ambrosini; Seedorf (Pato 66), Kaka (Favalli 80); Gilardino

Fiorentina 0:1 AC Milan - match report Scorer: Pato 77' (M) Alexandre Pato gave Milan a crucial victory away to Fiorentina, but the youngster was stretchered off with a potentially serious injury. This was essentially a play-off for fourth place between two teams finally finding their form. Fresh from a rescheduled midweek 1-0 away win at Reggina, the Rossoneri were without Ronaldo and Gennaro Gattuso, so former Viola man Cristian Brocchi had a rare start. Fiorentina's Marco Donadel sat out a ban and Fabio Liverani was sidelined, but they were coming off four straight wins. Milan have traditionally struggled at the Stadio Franchi, held 2-2 last season and with just one win here in their last five visits. Having said that, the last time they failed to score was a 4-0 thrashing in January 2001. There was a minute's silence before kick-off and Milan wore black armbands out of respect for President Silvio Berlusconi's mother, who died this weekend aged 97. Giampaolo Pazzini had the first shot on goal in the opening minute smothered by Zeljko Kalac, who was given the gloves despite Nelson Dida's return to fitness. There was chaos in the Viola box on seven minute as the Rossoneri had several chances in one move to score. Alberto Gilardino flicked the ball over Sebastien Frey and Manuel Pasqual's goalline clearance was almost an own goal, ricocheting off the inside of the far post! The move continued and Massimo Ambrosini's effort was charged down. Adrian Mutu went close as well soon after, his first header clattering against the near post, the follow-up looping but not enough to beat Kalac in a splendid save. Clarence Seedorf flashed a shot over and Martin Jorgensen's goalline clearance kept out Kakha Kaladze's header from a corner kick. Kaka pounced on a Per Kroldrup error and Gilardino fired a snapshot across the face of goal, but at the other end Mario Alberto Santana just failed to get a decisive touch from close range thanks to Paolo Maldini's protection. Gilardino was clear on goal from the D, but completely scuffed his right-foot shot so that it went well wide. A Massimo Oddo error sent Riccardo Montolivo on the counter, but Pazzini's finish was charged down inside the box. Moments later Pazzini chested down the ball to hold off Alessandro Nesta and spun round, the rising strike skimming the crossbar. Kaka and Seedorf combined for a classic counter-attack, but Frey did well to smother the Brazilian's finish. Straight after the restart Nesta was extremely fortunate to avoid a straight red card. He was dispossessed by Mutu and chasing the Fiorentina striker twice held him back by his jersey, but because Kaladze was between them and the goalkeeper, it was not considered a clear scoring opportunity and so only a booking. From the resulting free kick Nesta rode his luck again, the ball deflected out for a corner over his shoulder. Oddo dived in to prevent Pazzini getting a header from six yards on Mutu's cross. Alexandre Pato replaced Seedorf, who was struggling with an ankle problem since the first half, but the Dutchman was visibly angry and walked off the field distant from the bench. Maldini charged down a Tomas Ujfalusi attempt, but Kaka skipped past three tackles to fire wide of the near post. It was a very open game and Kalac did brilliantly to parry Mutu's volley at the back post from point-blank range. Emerson came off the bench and beat two Fiorentina players with nutmegs before unleashing a curler just over the bar in a wonderful solo move. Moments later Pato was inches away from getting the decisive touch on an Oddo cross that zipped across the face of goal. Santana wasted a golden opportunity and it proved disastrous. Santana's unnecessary backheel for Montolivo wrecked a great chance and on the counter Milan took the lead. Pato chested down Kaka's cross, controlled it and fired past Frey with his left foot between a crowd of defenders. It was the 18-year-old's fourth goal of the season. Former Milan flop Christian Vieri replaced Montolivo, but Kroldrup needed a desperate sliding tackle to stop Pato getting a second. The Brazilian badly sprained his left ankle as he put his foot down awkwardly and was stretchered off in visible pain. Milan had completed their substitutions, so had to play five minutes of stoppages with 10 men. In the final seconds a corner had both teams packed into the box and it fell to Alessandro Gamberini's header from six yards, but Kalac performed a stunning point-blank reaction save! Fiorentina: Frey; Ujfalusi, Kroldrup, Gamberini, Pasqual; Kuzmanovic, Jorgensen (Gobbi 81), Montolivo (Vieri 78); Santana, Pazzini, Mutu Milan: Kalac; Oddo, Nesta, Kaladze, Maldini; Brocchi (Emerson 72), Pirlo, Ambrosini; Seedorf (Pato 66), Kaka (Favalli 80); Gilardino

Fiorentina 0:1 AC Milan - match report Scorer: Pato 77' (M) Alexandre Pato gave Milan a crucial victory away to Fiorentina, but the youngster was stretchered off with a potentially serious injury. This was essentially a play-off for fourth place between two teams finally finding their form. Fresh from a rescheduled midweek 1-0 away win at Reggina, the Rossoneri were without Ronaldo and Gennaro Gattuso, so former Viola man Cristian Brocchi had a rare start. Fiorentina's Marco Donadel sat out a ban and Fabio Liverani was sidelined, but they were coming off four straight wins. Milan have traditionally struggled at the Stadio Franchi, held 2-2 last season and with just one win here in their last five visits. Having said that, the last time they failed to score was a 4-0 thrashing in January 2001. There was a minute's silence before kick-off and Milan wore black armbands out of respect for President Silvio Berlusconi's mother, who died this weekend aged 97. Giampaolo Pazzini had the first shot on goal in the opening minute smothered by Zeljko Kalac, who was given the gloves despite Nelson Dida's return to fitness. There was chaos in the Viola box on seven minute as the Rossoneri had several chances in one move to score. Alberto Gilardino flicked the ball over Sebastien Frey and Manuel Pasqual's goalline clearance was almost an own goal, ricocheting off the inside of the far post! The move continued and Massimo Ambrosini's effort was charged down. Adrian Mutu went close as well soon after, his first header clattering against the near post, the follow-up looping but not enough to beat Kalac in a splendid save. Clarence Seedorf flashed a shot over and Martin Jorgensen's goalline clearance kept out Kakha Kaladze's header from a corner kick. Kaka pounced on a Per Kroldrup error and Gilardino fired a snapshot across the face of goal, but at the other end Mario Alberto Santana just failed to get a decisive touch from close range thanks to Paolo Maldini's protection. Gilardino was clear on goal from the D, but completely scuffed his right-foot shot so that it went well wide. A Massimo Oddo error sent Riccardo Montolivo on the counter, but Pazzini's finish was charged down inside the box. Moments later Pazzini chested down the ball to hold off Alessandro Nesta and spun round, the rising strike skimming the crossbar. Kaka and Seedorf combined for a classic counter-attack, but Frey did well to smother the Brazilian's finish. Straight after the restart Nesta was extremely fortunate to avoid a straight red card. He was dispossessed by Mutu and chasing the Fiorentina striker twice held him back by his jersey, but because Kaladze was between them and the goalkeeper, it was not considered a clear scoring opportunity and so only a booking. From the resulting free kick Nesta rode his luck again, the ball deflected out for a corner over his shoulder. Oddo dived in to prevent Pazzini getting a header from six yards on Mutu's cross. Alexandre Pato replaced Seedorf, who was struggling with an ankle problem since the first half, but the Dutchman was visibly angry and walked off the field distant from the bench. Maldini charged down a Tomas Ujfalusi attempt, but Kaka skipped past three tackles to fire wide of the near post. It was a very open game and Kalac did brilliantly to parry Mutu's volley at the back post from point-blank range. Emerson came off the bench and beat two Fiorentina players with nutmegs before unleashing a curler just over the bar in a wonderful solo move. Moments later Pato was inches away from getting the decisive touch on an Oddo cross that zipped across the face of goal. Santana wasted a golden opportunity and it proved disastrous. Santana's unnecessary backheel for Montolivo wrecked a great chance and on the counter Milan took the lead. Pato chested down Kaka's cross, controlled it and fired past Frey with his left foot between a crowd of defenders. It was the 18-year-old's fourth goal of the season. Former Milan flop Christian Vieri replaced Montolivo, but Kroldrup needed a desperate sliding tackle to stop Pato getting a second. The Brazilian badly sprained his left ankle as he put his foot down awkwardly and was stretchered off in visible pain. Milan had completed their substitutions, so had to play five minutes of stoppages with 10 men. In the final seconds a corner had both teams packed into the box and it fell to Alessandro Gamberini's header from six yards, but Kalac performed a stunning point-blank reaction save! Fiorentina: Frey; Ujfalusi, Kroldrup, Gamberini, Pasqual; Kuzmanovic, Jorgensen (Gobbi 81), Montolivo (Vieri 78); Santana, Pazzini, Mutu Milan: Kalac; Oddo, Nesta, Kaladze, Maldini; Brocchi (Emerson 72), Pirlo, Ambrosini; Seedorf (Pato 66), Kaka (Favalli 80); Gilardino

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