Milan claimed a second successive Serie A victory on Sunday,
this time away at Udinese, with Alberto Gilardino scoring the only goal in
injury time.
Ronaldo, the best player for the visitors, was once more in menacing form,
providing the Milan attack with a real cutting edge. Three times in the first
half, the Brazilian came close to giving the Rossoneri the lead, as they
dominated the game with as much as 70% of possession.
On 17 minutes, the Phenomenon latched onto a cross with his head and forced
Udinese keeper Handanovic into a fine save. Nine minutes later the keeper was
beaten when the Brazilian finished off a piece of brilliant individual play with
a fierce drive from outside the area which bounced back off the post.
And then, just after the half-hour mark, following a neat combination between
Kaka and Clarence Seedorf, the ball fell once more to Ronaldo, who conjured
another dangerous shot on goal.
After the break, Milan, and Ronaldo, continued to threaten. On 47 minutes, he
picked up a fine pass inside the area, dribbled past his marker and unleashed
another powerful shot with his left foot, only to be denied by another fine save
from Handanovic.
Thereafter, the quality of the football dipped and the attacks became rarer, as
the game turned into a midfield tussle. However, just as it seemed that it would
end scoreless, Kaka backheeled the ball into Gilardino’s path in the Udinese
area and he fired home from close range to provide the Rossoneri with a deserved
win.
AC Milan now have 24 points, lifting them three places and into ninth, but with
three games in hand on most of the teams above them. |