Cagliari 0 - Milan 1

Cagliari: Agazzi, Astori, Canini, Agostini, Pisano, Conti, Cossu, Lazzari (Biondini 48), Nainggolan, Nene, Matri (Acquafresca 84).

AC Milan: Abbiati, Thiago Silva, Bonera, Antonini, Abate, Seedorf, Merkel (Cassano 74), Ambrosini, Gattuso (Strasser 58), Robinho, Pato.





Substitute Sidney Strasser netted his first professional goal five minutes from time at Cagliari to move AC Milan provisionally five points clear at the Serie A summit.

The 20-year-old Sierra Leone midfielder, a second-half replacement for Gennaro Gattuso, slotted home a late winner after fine work from new signing Antonio Cassano.

The result extended the Rossoneri's advantage at the top to five points over second-placed Lazio, although third-spotted Napoli can close that gap by winning at Inter Milan this evening.

The league leaders were made hard to work for their win today, with goalkeeper Michael Agazzi pulling off a brilliant fingertip save to keep out an early Robinho effort.

But the visitors did not have it all their own way and nearly fell behind just after the half-hour, when Michele Canini headed a corner against the post for 15th-placed Cagliari.

Milan goalkeeper Christian Abbiati then punched away a bullet 30-yard attempt from Andrea Lazzari as the teams went in at the break goalless.

Abbiati almost gifted the hosts the opener five minutes after the restart with a poor clearance which went straight to Nene, but he wasted his golden opportunity by firing over.

Robinho passed up another chance midway through the second half after latching onto Alexandre Pato's pass, failing to test Agazzi.

Cagliari too were not settling for a point and Abbiati did well two minutes later to keep out a drilled left-footed effort from Alessandro Matri.

But when the deadlock was finally broken it was the visiting fans who were cheering, Strasser beating the offside trap and slotting home from Cassano's pass.

BOLOGNA 0 MILAN 3

Bologna: Viviano; Esposito, Britos, Moras, Morleo; Casarini, Mudingayi, Della Rocca (Meggiorini 46); Buscè (Ekdal 46), Ramirez (Gimenez 76), Di Vaio

Milan: Abbiati; Abate, Nesta, Bonera, Zambrotta (Antonini 57); Gattuso (Strasser 53), Pirlo, Ambrosini; Boateng (Seedorf 72); Ibrahimovic, Robinho

Serie A leaders AC Milan made it seven games unbeaten with a comfortable win away to Bologna.

The Rossoneri went into the match three points clear of nearest rivals Lazio and ensured that lead would remain undiminished with a classy performance today.

Kevin-Prince Boateng got them off the mark early on before Robinho quickly made it 2-0 and Zlatan Ibrahimovic enjoyed a well-deserved goal of his own after another excellent performance.

Bologna had the first chance four minutes in when Gaston Ramirez took on Gennaro Gattuso before testing Christian Abbiati, the goalkeeper diving towards the left-hand corner to make an excellent save.

In the eighth minute, though, the visitors were ahead.

In-form striker Ibrahimovic did brilliantly to feed Boateng, the Ghana international was then able to keep his composure to beat Emiliano Viviano from close range.

As the half progressed the game died down, although Andrea Pirlo's cheeky 40-yard free-kick only went narrowly over the bar.

Ten minutes from the break it was 2-0. Boateng turned provider to find Robinho in the box. The Brazilian's pace saw him out-strip Andrea Esposito before poking the ball between Viviano's legs.

Viviano then put up some resistance when he denied Ibrahimovic with his leg and in added time produced another excellent save from the Swedish striker before Gianluca Zambrotta hit the ball from the rebound.

Pirlo and Ibrahimovic had half-chances early in the second half before Ramirez wasted a chance for the home team following a needless mistake by Abbiati in the Milan goal.

On the hour the leaders were 3-0 up and it was Pirlo and Ibrahimovic who combined, the former producing a lovely trademark pass to find his team-mate who controlled well before firing in right-footed past Viviano.

Substitute Riccardo Meggiorini had a header from close range for Bologna but Abbiati saved in the 63rd minute.

They had an even better chance to get on the scoresheet 12 minutes from time when they won a penalty. Clarence Seedorf fouled Marco Di Vaio in the box but Abbiati made the save when the striker got up to take the kick.

Miguel Britos saw a late header skim the post as Bologna's attacking enterprise went unrewarded.

Champions League : milan 2 auxerre 0

MILAN: Abbiati; Zambrotta, Nesta, Bonera, Antonini; Ambrosini, Pirlo, Seedorf; Pato, Ibrahimovic, Ronaldinho

AUXERRE: Sorin; Hengbart, Coulibaly, Mignot, Grichting; Pedretti, Ndinga; Oliech, Langil, Birsa; Jelen

After a goalless first half, Milan beat Auxerre 2-0 thanks to a brace from Ibrahimovic (66' and 69').

Milan’s miserable six-game run of home European games without a win was ended thanks to the influence of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who lead the Rossoneri to a 2-0 Champions League success over Auxerre at the San Siro.

With Massimiliano Allegri’s side toiling to create chances, an angled Ronaldinho centre was knocked on by substitute Kevin-Prince Boateng, with Ibrahimovic getting the decisive touch just in front of AJA goalkeeper Olivier Sorin.

Suddenly the pressure was lifted on the Italians, and as their opponents advanced a Ronaldinho surge from the midfield resulted in a pass that further exposed the French defence. Ibrahimovic wasn’t about to pass up the chance, side-footing a neat finish into the corner of the net from 18 yards to score his second goal in three minutes, killing the game off.

This would not be an entirely comfortable evening for the Milanese side, who were poor until they opened the scoring.

Adama Coulibaly came closest for the guests with 22 minutes on the clock, towering above Alessandro Nesta to head against the junction of post and bar from a corner kick.

This was by no means the only chance the Burgundy club had to open the scoring. Just before the interval a Milan corner broke down and as their veteran players lumbered back, the sprightly Burgundy club shot forward only for Steeven Langil to shoot from an impossible angle when two team-mates were waiting in the centre for a simple tap-in.


The Rossoneri had made a woeful start to the game from a defensive point of view, looking incredibly sloppy in the opening minutes. Valter Birsa and Langil were both given sights of goal, though Christian Abbiati wasn’t called into serious action on either occasion.

After these early wobbles, the hosts did get the expect grip on the ball but rarely penetrated. A free kick from Andrea Pirlo was punched away by Olivier Sorin on 22 minutes, while a flurry in the visiting box saw Alexandre Pato have a shot deflected over the top.

Milan perked up following the half-time interval. Pirlo had an effort from distance flash just wide before Luca Antonini’s low, hard cross had no takers moments later.

Only late on, after Ibrahimovic’s double, did Auxerre fight back. A late Dennis Oliech shot drew a save from Abbiati, but the guests couldn’t find even a consolation.

Twelve months ago, the Rossoneri were busy losing 1-0 to Zurich, so although this was by no means an impressive performance, it was a drastic improvement on that nightmarish evening.