Alessandro Nesta

[LuNo]

MILAN-GENOA

GOALKEEPERS: Kalac, Fiori;

DEFENDERS: Cafu, Favalli, Kaladze, Maldini, Nesta, Oddo;

MIDFIELDERS: Ambrosini, Brocchi, Emerson, Gattuso, Gourcuff, Pirlo, Seedorf;

STRIKERS: Gilardino, Kakà, Pato.

[LuNo]

AC Milan 2:0 Genoa - match report

Scorer: Pato 68, 82 (M)

Alexandre Pato bagged his first Serie A brace in a difficult victory over 10-man Genoa.

The Rossoneri's hopes of fighting back to a top four finish were dealt a heavy blow with their rescheduled Week 12 defeat to Atalanta midweek. The Brazilian trident system was shelved due to Ronaldo's injury, so Clarence Seedorf returned to a Trequartisa role. Zeljko Kalac deputised for the injured Nelson Dida. Genoa had won their last three on the trot and had Milan-owned striker Marco Borriello on stunning form with 11 goals, but only three of them outside Marassi. Domenico Criscito sat out a ban.

Genoa had not scored in this Serie A fixture for their last three visits, nor earned a point since the 1-1 draw in November 1991. Their most recent victory at San Siro was a 5-1 result in May 1958.

Seedorf's first touch wasted a great chance set up by Paolo Maldini's backheel flick, then Pato fired wide on the bounce after running on to a Kaka searching pass.

Pato had another chance moments later, outspriting his marker to flash a shot across the face of goal, but he wasted a golden opportunity on the half-hour mark. Kaka's deflected effort fell to the teenager from eight yards, but he toe-poked the ball straight at Rubinho.

Andrea Pirlo's right-foot rocket from distance dipped just over the bar, while Fabiani was off target for the Grifone and Alessandro Nesta's error almost gifted Borriello an opener, testing Kalac at the near post.

In the second half both teams appeared to wake up. Seedorf fired over and Kalac proved decisive on Borriello following Kakha Kaladze's error. A splendid Kaka first touch caught Massimo Oddo's pass and Rubinho did well to smother the shot with his body.

From the resulting corner Milan wanted a spot-kick for an Abdoulay Konko handling offence to charge down Maldini's effort, but the referee waved play on.

It was now a very open game and Borriello shook off Kaladze to volley over the bar. There were dozens of chances with Pato, Kaka and Ambrosini.

They eventually managed to make their opportunities count with Pato's second goal in as many home games. Seedorf held up Maldini's cross for Pato to loop a header across the face of goal.

Moments later Pato was running clear on goal and Rubinho rushed out of the area to block the lob with his arm, an inevitable red card offence. Substitute Alessio Scarpi came on for Omar Milanetto and his first task was to watch Pirlo's free kick skim the near post, but soon after smothered a good Pato opportunity.

Yet Genoa threatened an equaliser with a classic counter-attack, Oddo bravely flinging himself in the path of Borriello's finish.

Seedorf sent Pato clear again and although Scarpi got a hand to his lob, he could do nothing on the follow-up in front of an open goal.

Milan: Kalac; Oddo, Nesta, Kaladze, Maldini; Gattuso, Pirlo (Emerson 83), Ambrosini; Kakà, Seedorf; Pato

Genoa: Rubinho; Santos, Bovo, Danilo; Konko, Milanetto (Scarpi 71), Juric, Fabiano; Rossi (Figueroa 71), Borriello, Sculli

[LuNo]

[LuNo]

REGGINA - MILAN

GOALKEEPERS: Dida, Fiori, Kalac

DEFENDERS: Bonera, Cafu, Favalli, Kaladze, Nesta, Oddo, Simic

MIDFIELDERS: Brocchi, Emerson, Gattuso, Gourcuff, Pirlo, Seedorf

ATTACKERS: Kaka, Gilardino, Pato

[LuNo]

Thanks Sandy

[LuNo]

Reggina 0:1 AC Milan - match report

Scorer: Gilardino 18 (M)

Alberto Gilardino's goal proved enough to maintain Milan's climb up the table as they conquer Reggina 1-0 in a rescheduled Week 15 tie.

This match was rescheduled from December 9, 2007 due to the Rossoneri's participation in the Club World Cup in Japan. Nelson Dida, Ronaldo and Pippo Inzaghi were injured, so Alexandre Pato partnered Alberto Gilardino just three days after the Brazilian teenager bagged both goals in the 2-0 victory over Genoa. Reggina were fresh from a 2-2 draw away to Atalanta, where they fought back from 2-0 down, but Emil Halfredsson and Nicola Amoruso were sidelined.

Gennaro Gattuso scored a rare goal against Atalanta last week, albeit with the aid of a deflection, and he tried to repeat the trick with a fierce right-foot drive that the 'keeper palmed out for a corner. Pato, Kaka and Reggina's Emmanuel Cascione had efforts from distance.

Milan broke the deadlock after 18 minutes with under-fire Alberto Gilardino. An Andrea Pirlo cross found Gila unmarked at the back post and although Andrea Campagnolo got a hand to it, the free header was too powerful and squeezed in. It was the former Parma striker's seventh Serie A goal of the season, all of them away from home.

Moments later Gilardino nodded a Pirlo free kick just over, but he was in an offside position. Alvarez did well to close down Kaka as he ran on to an inspired chipped Pirlo pass, but Gattuso had another two attempts from the edge of the box, the second bringing a save out of Campagnolo.

Reggina's first real scoring opportunity was on 32 minutes, as Fabio Ceravolo got away from Alessandro Nesta and tested Zeljko Kalac at the near post.

Pato fired over from the D and Kaka drilled just wide before the break, while Gattuso and Simone Missiroli had long-range efforts after the restart.

The Amaranto threw on January signing Cristian Stuani and Campagnolo fingertipped a Pirlo set-piece out for a corner.

In the space of 20 seconds Milan had two fantastic opportunities to double their advantage. First Pirlo's free kick was curled over the wall and on to the crossbar, then as the move continued Campagnolo performed an incredible point-blank reaction save on Emerson.

A splendid Pato volley flashed wide of the near post, but the 18-year-old wasted a counter with a terrible finish. Gilardino was at full stretch to toe-poke a Massimo Oddo cross just past the far post.

Substitutes Cristian Brocchi and Yoann Gourcuff kept the Reggina defence busy late on.

Milan: Kalac; Oddo, Nesta, Kaladze, Favalli; Gattuso, Pirlo (Brocchi 82), Emerson; Kakà; Pato (Gourcuff 82), Gilardino

Reggina: Campagnalo; Lanzaro, Cirillo, Aronica; Alvarez, Cascione (Barreto 68), Cozza, Modesto; Vigiani (Montiel 74), Missiroli; Ceravolo (Stuani 61)

[sandy]

You're welcome LuNo

[LuNo]

FIORENTINA - MILAN

GOALKEEPERS: Dida, Kalac, Fiori

DEFENDERS: Bonera, Cafu, Favalli, Jankulovski, Kaladze, Maldini, Nesta, Oddo

MIDFIELDERS: Ambrosini, Brocchi, Emerson, Gourcuff, Kakà, Pirlo, Seedorf

ATTACKERS: Gilardino, Pato

[LuNo]

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

[LuNo]

[LuNo]

[LuNo]

[LuNo]

[Laudy Bonera]

Thanks Luno!

[LuNo]

Thanks

[LuNo]

MILAN-SIENA

GOALKEEPERS: Dida, Kalac;

DEFENDERS: Bonera, Cafu, Favalli, Jankulovski, Maldini, Nesta, Serginho;

MIDFIELDERS: Ambrosini, Brocchi, Emerson, Gourcuff, Pirlo, Seedorf;

STRIKERS: Inzaghi, Ronaldo, Paloschi.

[LuNo]

AC Milan 1:0 Siena - match report

Scorer: Paloschi 63 (M)

A star is born, as 18-year-old Alberto Paloschi scored the winner 15 seconds into his Serie A debut!

The Rossoneri had risen to fifth place with a game in hand following three wins on the trot, but Alberto Gilardino was suspended, Kaka, Alexandre Pato and Gennaro Gattuso injured, so Ronaldo and Pippo Inzaghi formed an unlikely partnership. Siena were fresh from a shock 3-0 drubbing of Roma, following on from a victory over Palermo and a slender 3-2 loss to Inter.

Last season this tie ended 0-0, the first time Siena had emerged undefeated. Both goalkeepers were forced into splendid saves in the opening six minutes, as Zeljko Kalac flew to parry a Mario Frick snapshot and Alex Manninger had his palms stung by an Inzaghi counter-attack.

Siena hit the back of the net after 13 minutes, but the goal was disallowed for a very tight Tomas Locatelli offside position, as he may have been kept in play by Marek Jankulovski before he volleyed in from seven yards.

Serginho nutmegged Locatelli only to hit the side-netting, then Inzaghi spun round his marker to drill over the bar from Massimo Ambrosini's assist. Serginho was in splendid form in a rare start and some more fancy footwork sent Ronaldo clear, but Il Fenomeno's effort was charged down.

Inzaghi got in front of his marker at the near post to nod a Serginho cross on to the side-netting, while at the other end Massimo Maccarone was not alert enough to pounce on Lukas Jarolim's smart cross.

Milan made two substitutions at half-time and Manninger risked dismissal as he rushed out to clear outside the box, almost handling. Inzaghi was furious as he was stopped alone on goal for a debatable offside position, as Portanova seemed to be keeping him in play.

Yet on 51 minutes Siena went closer than anyone to a goal, Frick sweeping a right-foot strike on to the upright from nine yards.Substitute Clarence Seedorf lost the ball in midfield an Simone Vergassola launched Maccarone's counter, but Daniele Bonera did just enough to put him off and Kalac saved the shot.

Locatelli had another great chance for Siena, nodding over an empty net under no pressure. The San Siro crowd started to jeer and Carlo Ancelotti resorted to desperate measures - 18-year-old youth striker Alberto Paloschi.

It proved inspired, as 15 seconds into his debut the teen let the ball bounce and cracked a fantastic right-foot strike into the far bottom corner from the edge of the box! After Pato, another youngster made a sensational San Siro debut.

Siena were stunned, but fought back with Locatelli drilling past the post. Paloschi combined brilliantly with Inzaghi and had the crowd on its feet again, then Manninger flew to parry Seedorf's rocket from distance.

Simone Vergassola was shown a straight red card for stopping a clear scoring opportunity, as he raised his arm - albeit very close to the incident - to block Inzaghi's counter.

In the final minute Kalac performed a fantastic save on Frick's flicked header and Manninger went up for the last corner kick, but ended up causing more problems as he got in the way of teammate Simone Loria.

Milan: Kalac; Cafu, Nesta (Bonera 46), Maldini, Jankulovski; Brocchi, Ambrosini, Pirlo, Serginho (Paloschi 63); Ronaldo (Seedorf 46), Inzaghi

Siena: Manninger; Rossettini, Portanova, Loria, De Ceglie; Jarolim (Kharja 73), Codrea, Vergassola; Locatelli (Forestieri 75); Maccarone, Frick

[jfanatique]

his really cute!!!!

thankssssss

[LuNo]

PARMA - MILAN

GOALKEEPERS: Dida, Fiori, Kalac;

DEFENDERS: Bonera, Cafu, Jankulovski, Kaladze, Maldini, Nesta, Oddo, Serginho;

MIDFIELDERS: Ambrosini, Brocchi, Emerson, Gattuso, Gourcuff, Kakà, Pirlo;

STRIKERS: Gilardino, Inzaghi, Paloschi.