Ibra on target as Milan brush aside Brescia
Reuters - Saturday 04 December 2010, 22:25
MILAN - Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored another
special goal as AC Milan underlined their position as Serie A
title favourites with a 3-0 home win over Brescia on Saturday.
The Rossoneri, chasing a first scudetto since 2004, moved
three points clear at the top having been briefly caught on
Friday by Lazio who beat troubled champions Inter Milan 3-1.
Sixth-placed Inter are now 10 points behind city rivals
Milan and their chances of a sixth straight title look remote
after 15 games of the season.
Milan, who drew 1-1 with Sampdoria last weekend in a rare
blip, took no time at all in dismantling promoted Brescia.
Midfielder Kevin Prince Boateng netted his first league goal
for the club in the fourth minute after Ibrahimovic's assist.
Forward Robinho, preferred to fellow Brazilian Ronaldinho
for a seventh straight game, extended the lead after 28 minutes
when he intercepted a backpass before Ibrahimovic produced great
individual skill to make it three on the half hour.
The giant Sweden striker, who failed to net against Samp,
scored his eighth of the league campaign and no Milan fan would
doubt that the addition of the ex-Inter and Barcelona man is the
key reason why they are top of the table.
The shrewd coaching of new boss Massimiliano Allegri, whose
only previous Serie A experience was with perennial mid-table
team Cagliari, has also made a difference.
The softly-spoken manager has shown his tougher side by
daring to leave the underperforming Ronaldinho out despite the
playmaker being club owner Silvio Berlusconi's favourite.
The result, along with limiting Andrea Pirlo's slowing
influence on the side, has been a quicker and more incisive
Milan than the versions seen in the last five years.
"It's important to carry on like this, often it's happened
and it will happen that someone is left out. The key thing is
that those who play give their all," Allegri told Sky.
"Tonight we can be happy but the championship is still long.
Last season (runners-up) Roma made up 14 points on Inter."
CHIEVO COMEBACK
Ronaldinho came on in the second half but, despite long-term
injuries to Alexandre Pato and Filippo Inzaghi, the former world
player of the year is just a spare part these days and local
media say he may leave in January as Milan seek another striker.
In the early game, seventh-placed AS Roma threw away a
two-goal lead to draw 2-2 at Chievo and could easily have lost.
Davide Moscardelli sparked Chievo's comeback midway through
the second half before Pablo Granoche equalised seven minutes
from time and Roma's Daniele De Rossi was sent off for a foul.
Adriano, who criticised Roma coach Claudio Ranieri in
midweek for not giving him enough playing time, finally got a
start and was involved in both first-half goals for Brazilian
compatriot Simplicio on a terrible pitch.
Ranieri rested forwards Marco Borriello and Francesco Totti
after last weekend's 3-1 defeat at Palermo and with one eye on
next week's crucial Champions League group match at CFR Cluj.
Next weekend's games are threatened by a players' strike.