coppa italia: ac milan 2 novara 1 video hightlight

Mathieu Flamini earlier spared AC Milan's blushes by netting the winner nine minutes from time in a 2-1 last-16 victory over third tier Novara.

Striker Filippo Inzaghi, now 36 and often a substitute under manager Leonardo this season, had reminded Milan of his worth with a 12th-minute opener and other fine touches.

A second-string Milan side allowed Pablo Gonzalez to score just after the break but the hosts prevailed when Flamini's powerful strike set up a meeting with Udinese or Lumezzane, who play on Thursday.

Milan qualify for the Coppa Italia quarter finals beating Novara at San Siro thanks to goals by Inzaghi and Flamini. Pippo opened the score after 12 minutes. The visitors equalised with a great left-footed shot from distance by Gonzalez. Novara believed in it, pushed by the almost 10.000 visitors at San Siro, but a great shot toward the top corner of the net by Flamini gave the Rossoneri victory, allowing them to continue the series of consecutive positive results.

Coach Leonardo plays Storari between the posts, Bonera and the young De Vito on the wings with Kaladze and Favalli in the center. In midfield Flamini, Ambrosini and Jankulovski with Di Gennaro behind the strikers Inzaghi and Huntelaar. Available: Abbiati, Thiago Silva, Antonini, Abate, Gattuso, Verdi, Zigoni.
Here are the 11 chosen by Attilio Tesser: Fontana, Cossentino, Centurioni, Ludi (72' Lisuzzo), Gheller, Shala (83' Motta), Porcari, Tombesi (80' Juliano), Rigoni , Bertani, Gonzales. Available: Ujkani, Evola, Ledesma, Rubino.

Di Gennaro and Bonera made their season debuts. The Rossoneri defender returned on the pitch after ten months since Milan-Atalanta of 8 March 2009, when he was forced to leave the pitch 6 minutes before the end.

MATCH STATS:

MILAN-NOVARA 2-1

MILAN (4-3-1-2): Storari, Bonera (46' Abate), Kaladze, Favalli, De Vito, Flamini, Ambrosini, Jankulowski, Di Gennaro (67' Verdi), Inzaghi, Huntelaar. Available: Abbiati, Thiago Silva, Antonini, Gattuso, Zigoni. Coach: Leonardo
NOVARA (4-3-1-2): Fontana, Cossentino, Centurioni, Ludi (72' Lisuzzo), Gheller, Shala (83' Motta), Porcari, Tombesi (80' Juliano), Rigoni , Bertani, Gonzales. Available: Ujkani, Evola, Ledesma, Rubino. Coach: Tesser
REFEREE: Candussio
GOALSCORERS: 12' Inzaghi (M), 46' Gonzales (N), 81' Flamini (M)
BOOKED: Porcari (N)