Inzaghi, Kaka on target as AC Milan beat Catania

New Delhi: Milan continued their fine recent form with a 2-0 win at Catania, Inzaghi and Kaka grabbing the goals.

Milan's slim hopes of the Scudetto had received a hammer blow on Saturday night after Inter defeated Lazio, extending their lead at the top to 10 points. Nevertheless, the Rossoneri were hoping continue their fine recent form, which had seen them win four games on the bounce.

Gattuso, Borriello, Nesta, Kaladze, Bonera, Abbiati, and Antonini were all injured though, while Mathieu Flamini served a suspension. Catania were virtually safe from relegation and had little to play for. The Sicilians were minus the injured Ledesma and Potenza, as well as the banned Sciacca.

First Half

Milan risked going behind on six minutes as Giuseppe Favalli headed the ball onto his own post from point-blank range following a corner from the left.

A few minutes later, Milan twice went close down the other end, as Paolo Maldini's looping header was cleared off the line, and goalkeeper Tomas Kosicky also saved smartly from Pippo Inzaghi.

Milan were controlling the game and having all the possession. On 26 minutes they broke the deadlock as Kaka's run set-up Inzaghi, who lost Silvestri and steered the ball past the goalkeeper for his 11th goal in his last eight games.

Catania tried to react, and Dida had to be alert to smother Mascara's daisycutter. But the home side risked conceding a second, as Kosicky raced off his line to close down Inzaghi.

Superpippo missed a glorious chance five minutes before the break to make it 2-0, as he headed wide with the goal gaping from Andrea Pirlo's lifted cross.

Second Half

Giacomo Tedesco replaced Izco at half time, and immediately threatened by fizzing a piledriver just past the post.

However, Milan doubled their lead on 51 minutes. Beckham's header was pushed out by Kosicky, but only into the path of Kaka, who could not miss from inside the six-yard box.

Inzaghi then spurned another great chance, as he got in front of his marker but headed wide from Kaka's inspired cross. Kosicky also acrobaticaly tipped over from Marek Jankulovski's cross-shot.

Inzaghi was having an incredibly wasteful afternoon, and just past the hour mark he incredibly fired over of an open goal, following brilliant work down the left by Kaka. The Italian then latched onto another pass, but saw his shot clip the post and go wide, via Kosicky.

Minutes later, Milan hit the post again. This time it was Kaka who was the unlucky man, following an outrageous attempt that drew a standing ovation from the Catania crowd.

Alexandre Pato was introduced for Inzaghi, and almost added a third, only to be denied by Kosicky.

Felipe Mattioni made his Serie A debut in the closing few minutes as the game ended 2-0 to Milan. It is the Rossoneri's fifth win in succession, as they close the gap on leaders Inter to seven points, with just four games remaining.

Teams

Catania: Kosicky; Silvestri, Silvestre, Stovini, Capuano; Carboni (Llama 62), Biagianti, Izco (Tedesco 46); Mascara (Spinesi 79); Morimoto, Martinez

Milan: Dida; Zambrotta, Favalli, Maldini, Jankulovski; Ambrosini, Pirlo, Beckham (Bonera 78); Kaka (Mattioni 88), Seedorf; Inzaghi (Pato 73)

Goals

Inzaghi 26 (M)

Kaka 61 (M)

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