AC Milan 3-2 Udinese

Posted Saturday, February 13, 2010 by Goal.com

The Rossoneri were back to winning ways.

Milan prepared for their big Champions League tie against Manchester United next week with an exciting 3-2 Serie A win over Udinese at San Siro.

Klaas-Jan Huntelaar scored twice, and substitute Alexandre Pato struck on his comeback, but the star of the show was Ronaldinho who made all three goals.

The Rossoneri had been in shaky form lately, but welcomed back Alessandro Nesta. Gianluca Zambrotta, Clarence Seedorf, Luca Antonini and Marco Borriello were injured, as Klaas-Jan Huntelaar started in attack supported by Ronaldinho and Amantino Mancini.

Udinese were on a high after defeating Napoli but had problems in defence as Dusan Basta, Damiano Ferronetti and Maurizio Domizzi were all out. In-form Antonio Di Natale led the frontline.

Milan threatened first as Huntelaar was closed down and Andrea Pirlo rattled wide from 20 yards.

The deadlock was broken on six minutes. Ronaldinho worked some magic down the right and crossed to the near post for Huntelaar to head home.

Udinese almost replied immediately as Mauricio Isla fizzed a shot past the far post with Di Natale sliding in.

On 12 minutes Milan received a blow as Mancini limped off, pushing forward Alexandre Pato's comeback from injury as a substitute.

Di Natale and Alexis Sanchez lashed high and wide, before Nelson Dida almost made a mess of a long Gokhan Inler effort.

On 23 minutes Milan had the ball in the back of the net as Pato rounded Samir Handanovic from Ronaldinho's brilliant blind-eye pass but the goal was chalked off for a tight but correct offside call.

Milan continued to control the game, and seven minutes before the break they doubled their advantage. A fantastic first time Ronaldinho pass released Pato, and the 20-year-old received a lucky break as he dispatched the ball home at the second attempt.

The Rossoneri's celebrations were cut short as they lost their second player of the night. Thiago Silva left the field injured to be replaced by Daniele Bonera.

Handanovic pushed out Andrea Pirlo's free kick, but one minute into first half injury time Udinese got themselves back into the game. Di Natale crossed from the left for Floro Flores, whose header was fumbled into the net by the less than impressive Dida.

Buoyed by their goal, Udinese started the second half the better side and Kwadwo Asamoah twice attempted long shots.

But on 56 minutes Milan restored their two-goal cushion. Once again Ronaldinho was the creator as his free kick found its way to Huntelaar, who spun to lash in his second.

Udinese tried to react and Di Natale's header forced Dida into a flying stop.

On 72 minutes Huntelaar had the chance to complete his hat-trick as he volleyed just over from Pirlo's set-piece from the right.

Gennaro Gattuso then missed a sitter to make it 4-1 as he was all alone at the back post from Ronaldinho's brilliant pass, but Handanovic saved superbly.

From the following corner Ronaldinho had his header cleared off the line before leaving to a standing ovation after a brilliant showing and three assists. David Beckham came on, with his ex-Man Utd manager Sir Alex Ferguson watching from the stands.

Beckham's first act was a disastrous back-pass that put Di Natale clean through on goal, but the little Italian over-ran the ball as he rounded Dida.

Pato almost squeezed the ball in from a tight angle, but with five minutes remaining Di Natale ensured a nervous finish by beating the offside trap and curling home.