|
AC Milan's young talent Alexandre Pato scored the winner late
Sunday as the Devils snatched a 1-0 win at Fiorentina, who still held the fourth
Serie A place granting a Champions League berth. The Florence side stayed rooted
on 37 points, four clear of Udinese and Milan, who can improve their tally on
February 13 through a game in hand with Livorno.
Title holders Inter Milan remain top on 53 points from 21 games, having extended
their lead to eight points with a 1-0 win over Empoli, while second-place Roma
crashed 3-0 at struggling Siena.
In rainy Florence, defender Manuel Pasqual scared the home crowd on seven
minutes as he shook his own woodwork trying to clear a lob tried by Milan's
single striker Alberto Gilardino.
The Artemio Franchi roared on 14 minutes when Fiorentina's first chance went
begging as Adrian Mutu nodded against the post and found goalkeeper Zeljko Kalac
ready to grab his second header on the rebound.
Giampaolo Pazzini had a chance for the hosts on 40 minutes but fired wide after
getting the best of Alessandro Nesta, while Milan forward Kaka had his drive
saved as he tried to finish off an assist from Clarence Seedorf.
As the tempo eased after the break, Milan added a striker on 66 minutes as they
replaced Dutchman Seedorf with Brazilian Pato, who on 77 minutes put the Devils
up with a classy control and a precise shot past Sebastien Frey.
Mutu had come close a minute earlier, being denied by Kalac as he volleyed from
an angled position. The Australian goalkeeper was crucial again in injury time,
blocking a close-range header from Alessandro Gamberini.
Bad news for Milan was the ankle injury that on 45 minutes forced Pato to leave
the pitch on a stretcher.
"It was very important to win," Kalac said. "We drew closer (to fourth place)
playing a great game." |
