TWO LITTLE DUCKS!

AC Milan are going up in the world, a duck on the books and a first home win was only marginally derailed by a loss to Atalanta.  Today they faced a tough Genoa side and looked distinctly average but; quack quack; Pato scored two to sour the day for the Rossoblu. 

 

The Stadio Giuseppe Meazza was tentative and expectant, the high of wins against Palermo and Udinese and the midweek loss to Atalanta has the Milan Tifosi unsure of what they'll see on the pitch.  They always draw good support at home though and the stadium had a respectable level of noise. 

 

Ancelotti needs to make changes with suspensions and injuries hampering his squad.  Kalac must keep goal behind a decent back four of Oddo, Nesta, Kaladze and Maldini.  Gattuso, Pirlo and Ambrosini sit deep in the middle with Seedorf and Kaka sitting behind Pato.  The formation is classic Milan Christmas Tree, with fluidity. 

 

Gasperini went with an defensive 3 4 3.  Rubinho keeps goal behind Santos, Bovo and Danilo.  A midfield quartet of Konko, Milanetto, Juric and Fabiano have defensive duties whilst Rossi and Sculli patrol wide and the front man is Borriello. 

 

The game starts evenly with Borriello getting an early sniff although he's let down by a poor first touch.  Konko shows his mettle with some astute and pacy defending against Pato. 

Genoa appear confident whilst Milan are more measured.  The quick Konko pass down the right frees Sculli but his cross in is poor.  Pirlo puts in a terrible free kick and Italian and Dutch veterans combine as Maldini work the ball into Seedorf in the area, with time and space the Dutchman's first touch hands Genoa a goal kick.  Genoa play the ball forward on the break but Nesta shrugs off Borriello to stifle the threat. 

Pirlo puts in two more awful balls in quick succession then Gattuso's lunge can't stop the fluid Genoa counter, only a poor Milanetto cross can do that. 

Milan aren't working well, the Rossoneri seem lacking in confidence or guile in the early going.  They have the better of the possession but Genoa are more incisive with their attacks although the Rossoblu can't put in that final ball. 

Gattuso gets away with a nasty challenge and Milanetto ends another neat Genoa move with a poor choice of cross. 

Pato is full of running and eagerness but his first touch is erratic and his finishing isn't great, although Rubinho does have to make a smart close range save to stop the young Brazilian. 

This energizes Milan who start to play with more precision in the final third; Pirlo sees the space and without much challenge puts the ball narrowly over the bar. 

Genoa get their best chance soon after, Nesta's attempt at a backheel is stolen by Borriello who gallops forward, pushed wide his shot still troubles the Australian keeper.  Soon after Genoa get forward again and some neat interplay and a good cross sees Sculli with a shooting opportunity, he scuffs his shot and the danger is cleared. 

 

The Milan Tifosi are unhappy with their team and whistle them in at the half. 

 

Straight away the Rossoblu attack and only a poor advantage call holds the move back. 

Seedorf gets more involved in the attacks and pokes a shot over. 

The Rossublu see their best chance evaporate when Borriello beats the Milan defence and finds himself one on one with the 'keeper, he makes it easy for Kalac by firing the ball straight at him, surely harder than scoring. 

Milan start to keep and use possession and Genoa are pegged back but hold firm.  Kaka fires straight at Rubinho and replays show that maybe Konko actually did get away with a handball in the area. 

The game is much more open as both sides seek the opener, Borriello gets a chance off a corner but fires over, and Danilo gets away with a cheeky handball to deny the excellent run of Oddo.  Kaka's delightful through ball finds Ambrosini but on his weaker foot he shanks it. 

Maldini, roving forward and effortlessly defying the years puts in a ball which Genoa don't clear; Pato is free at the back post and nods past Rubinho for the opener.  Hardly a classic goal but they all count.  

Soon after the Rossoblu; pushing forward to grab the equalizer; are caught out on a soft throw in, Ambrosini wins the loose ball and fires in a long ball which splits the Genoa centrebacks and see the pace of Pato take him clear with only Rubinho to beat, the 'keeper comes way out of his box and Pato's neat chip is handled by Rubinho.  He gets a red and thankfully the substitute 'keeper's first task isn't to pick the ball out of the net, he's lucky to see Pirlo's free kick go just wide. 

Milan apply pressure and the numerical advantage allows them to hold Genoa under the cosh, this doesn't entirely hold Genoa down as Borriello has a glorious chance to play a killer ball to the unmarked Figueroa, he chooses to shoot and the chance at an equalizer disappears. 

Ambrosini plays a long ball up for Pato to chase and Scarpi does well to stop the ball but his parry falls into the path of the Brazilian who excitedly walks the ball into the empty net. 

Milan round out the game professionally and grab three points. 

 

Gasperini's men created their chances but poor finishing left the door open for an average Milan to get the points.  They are doing well this season and can look to a chance at a UEFA Cup spot.  Better finishing would have seen them grab the points. 

 

Ancellotti's charges weren't great, Pato looks so talented and so raw, Seedorf and Pirlo hardly set the San Siro alight and the defence allowed Genoa too many chances.  There are no style points in football and Pato bagged two (although it should have been more).  His star is on the ascendancy but Milan's has yet to convince.  Two games in hand have to be won for them to climb above Udinese in the table. 

 

Does Gattuso get his first hacking, ankle breaking challenge for free without any yellow attached?  When Kaladze falls over whilst hauling on the shirt of Borriello why does the referee not allow the Genoa front man to run into the acres of space down the Milan left or cut inside through a static and flustered Milan defence?  Only he will know why he neglected to play a super obvious advantage instead of calling play back and allowing Milan time to get themselves organized.  The game was 0-0 at this point and a Genoa goal would have livened up the Rossoneri no end.  Really really poor tonight ref, hang your head in shame.  Rubinho did have to go though. 

 

 

AC Milan:-

Kalac

Oddo

Nesta

Kaladze

Maldini

Gattuso (Brocchi 88)

Pirlo (Emerson 83)

Ambrosini

Seedorf

Kaka

Pato (Gilardino 91)

 

Goals:-

Pato 68

Pato 82

 

Bookings:-

Ambrosini

Gilardino

 

Genoa:-

Rubinho

Santos

Bovo

Danilo

Konko

Milaneto (Scarpi 71)

Juric

Fabiano

Rossi (Figueroa 71)

Borriello

Sculli (Lucarelli 64)

 

 

Goals:-

 

Bookings:-

Bovo

Danilo

Rubinho (R)

 

 

Referee:-

Rochi

PICTURES COURTESY OF ACMILAN.COM