AC Milan 5:1 Udinese - match report

Source: Football Italia
Scorers: Pato 4, 18 (M), Kaka 13, 52 (M), Di Natale 17 (U), Seedorf 42 (M)
Milan thrashed sorry Udinese 5-1 in a thrilling encounter with Kaka and Alexandre Pato getting two apiece.
David Beckham was presented to the fans before kick-off on the San Siro pitch, but he won't be eligible until January. The Rossoneri could do with his support now, as they were without Gennaro Gattuso, Mathieu Flamini, Emerson, Marco Borriello, Alessandro Nesta, Daniele Bonera, Philippe Senderos and banned duo Massimo Ambrosini and Gianluca Zambrotta. At least Kaka recovered from a groin problem, but Marek Jankulovski was a makeshift midfielder.
Confidence was low for both sides, as Milan's 4-2 defeat at Juventus effectively ended their Scudetto hopes, while Udinese threw away a 3-0 lead against Lazio to pick up their only point in six games.
Aleksandr Lukovic caused an early scare when he skipped past Luca Antonini and put the ball across the face of goal, but the Rossoneri broke through moments later.
Giuseppe Favalli was sent clear down the left flank and his cross from the byline found Alexandre Pato's cushioned header at the back post. The Brazilian was totally unmarked and the Udinese defence found woefully unprepared.
Less than a minute later Pato duetted with Ronaldinho and only a crucial tackle prevented the two Selecao stars from finishing off the high-speed move.
It was wide open, though, as Gaetano D'Agostino unleashed a blockbuster from 25 metres and Christian Abbiati flew across the face of goal for a stunning one-handed save. He paid the price, as the goalkeeper went face-first into the upright, but was able to continue after treatment.
Simone Pepe wanted a free kick on the edge of the box for a coming together with Paolo Maldini, but was only booked for dissent.
Milan doubled their lead moments later with a classic Brazilian counter-attack. Pato found space down the left when he skipped past his marker, then rolled across with the outside of his right foot for Kaka to tap in from five yards. Kaka went to hug Gennaro Gattuso, who was on the sidelines with his crutches after knee surgery.
Pato set up Kaka for another wonderful team move smothered by Samir Handanovic, but Antonio Di Natale made it 2-1 on 17 minutes. Lukovic went down the left for Fabio Quagliarella, whose disguised pass was smashed in from the edge of the box by Di Natale. It whizzed into the far bottom corner, leaving Abbiati rooted to the spot.
Less than a minute later it was 3-1! Pato got his second of the game, as Antonini knocked down an Andrea Pirlo chipped pass for the Brazilian teenager.
Di Natale and Ronaldinho fired over from tight angles, while Abbiati palmed a Pepe cross-shot out of the top corner. It was so nearly a Pato hat-trick, but Handanovic got a fingertip to Kaka's cross.
Damiano Ferronetti had to intercept another splendid move, as Ronaldinho's backheel was sending Pato clear.
Udinese lost Quagliarella to a bizarre injury, as he got a knock to the side of the head and seemed stunned, repeatedly shaking his right ear. He had to be replaced by Antonio Floro Flores.
The Rossoneri made it 4-1 before the break. Pirlo's free kick smacked against the upright, but Clarence Seedorf was there to slide on to the loose ball from six yards despite Luigi Sala holding on to his shirt.
In stoppages Pato threatened a fifth on the counter from Udinese's corner, but Handanovic managed to block with his body.
After the restart Pato set up Kaka for another Handanovic save, then the goalkeeper smothered another attempt from the 2007 Ballon d'Or. It was just w warm-up, as Kaka unleashed an incredible blockbuster from the edge of the box in at the near top corner, having dummied a shot towards the other post.
Udinese tested Abbiati with a soaring Floro Flores header, but the striker fell badly on to his back and was stretchered off in agony. He tried to stand up, but quickly collapsed in tears. He had already replaced the injured Quagliarella and made way for Alexis Sanchez.
Milan had another great chance as Pato's dummy allowed Kaka's low cross to come through and Pirlo slid on to it inches past the far post. Kaka thought he should've had a penalty when he went shoulder to shoulder with a defender and fell in the box.
Pato received a standing ovation when replaced by Andriy Shevchenko, but Abbiati flew to push a D'Agostino free kick out from under the bar and Sanchez's flick with the outside of his boot was charged down.
Kaka curled past the far post and 18-year-old Strasser received his Serie A debut in midfield and was promptly booked for a tackle from behind.
Milan: Abbiati; Antonini (Darmian 75), Maldini, Kaladze (Strasser 81), Favalli; Seedorf, Pirlo, Jankulovski; Kaka, Ronaldinho; Pato (Shevchenko 71)
Udinese: Handanovic; Ferronetti, Sala, Domizzi, Lukovic; Inler, D'Agostino, Isla; Pepe (Pasquale 81), Quagliarella (Floro Flores 39) (Sanchez 65), Di Natale
Ref: Saccani