Andrea Pirlo Helps AC milan

AC Milan helped their cause to continue their winning run by squeezing a goal from Andrea Pirlo with ten minutes left before break time.

A 66th minute goal from forward Rolando Bianchi gave them a chance to live but Milan’s Gilardino made sure they seal the victory. A play description below came from Sporating Life:

MILAN WIN AGAIN
AC Milan clinched their third win in a row after beating strugglers Reggina on Sunday afternoon to kick off 2007 on the right foot.

A sixth minute free-kick from former Reggina midfielder Andrea Pirlo put Milan in front before Clarence Seedorf doubled his team’s advantage 10 minutes before the break.

Reggina forward Rolando Bianchi re-opened the contest with an impressive 66th minute strike before Alberto Gilardino made sure to kill the game off shortly after.

The result sees the Rossoneri climb to ninth in the standings and reduce their deficit with fourth-placed Catania, who hold the last Champions League qualifying spot, to just three points.

Catania lost 2-1 at Chievo on Sunday.
Carlo Ancelotti’s men showed a better image in their first game of 2007 than in recent months despite having to do without six regular players, including Brazilian midfielder Kaka.

Opponents Reggina travelled to the San Siro desperate for a win which could see them move out of the relegation zone for the first time this season, but offered little opposition to the Rossoneri.

Carlo Ancelotti’s men enjoyed a good start and were soon rewarded for their efforts.

Pirlo’s curling free-kick towards the far post beat goalkeeper Ivan Pelizzoli.
Reggina attempted to react and Giacomo Tedesco’s effort from the distance went wide of Zeljko Kalac’s near post.

Milan were quite happy to sit on their lead and hit Reggina on the counter-attack.

Reggina were unlucky not to level the score midway through the first-half with Giandomenico Mesto’s close-range effort rebounding off the far post with Kalac already beaten.

Just when the visitors were playing at their best, Milan struck again.
In the 35th minute, Seedorf played a one-two with Marek Jankulovski before firing past Pelizzoli to make it 2-0.

Reggina showed more aggresiveness after the re-start, with Nicola Amoruso’s central effort from the distance forcing Kalac to make a fine save.

Shortly after, Bianchi missed a golden chance to reduce the deficit with his close-range strike from Modesto’s inviting cross going wide off Kalac’s far post.

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