Catania-Milan: Kaka And Inzaghi The Star

It finished Catania-Milan 0-2 at the Massimino stadium of Catania, Sunday. Goals from Filippo Inzaghi and Brazil star Kaka secured a 2-0 win for AC Milan over Catania, but the Rossoneri remain seven points adrift of leaders Inter Milan with four games left to the end of the Serie A season.

Under the hard rain and the pitch was very slippery, the Rossoneri showed their determination and spirit to get the perfect point and to secure their position which is that of achieving the qualification to the next Champions League.

Milan confirmed the formation that played against Palermo, with the only exception being Mathieu Flamini, who was suspended, and who was replaced by Marek Jankulovski. Zambrotta returned on the right flank, while Clarence Seedorf supported Kaka and Inzaghi up front. Also Daniele Bonera was available, who returned after his last appearence on 8 March, Milan-Atalanta 3-0.

Catania adjusted better to the conditions and went close to taking the lead in the seventh minute when Jorge Martinez's header was diverted onto his own post by Giuseppe Favalli. Milan came close to scoring in the 11th minute, with a nice header by Maldini on a corner kick which was cleared by Izco on the goal line.

In the 27th minute Milan scored with Pippo Inzaghi: Kaka won the ball in midfield, served Inzaghi who controlled the ball and beat Kosicky with a right footed shot. For Superpippo it was the 13th goal in the league, his 11th in the last eight games.

Inzaghi should have scored his 14th of the season when Andrea Pirlo lifted the ball up on a plate for him in the 40th minute, but he somehow managed to head the ball wide of the post from just four yards out when it seemed easier to score.

Pippo should have scored his 14th of the season, a great one-two between Kaka-Pirlo, with Andrea playing it brilliantly on Kaka's head just in front of Kosicky, but this time Superpippo put it wide. He then missed another chance when he slipped while well placed to meet a Gianluca Zambrotta cross.

Kaka doubled Milan's advantage in the 51st minute when he was on hand to tap the ball in when Beckham's header was parried by Tomas Kosicky.

Giacomo Tedesco Tedesco takes Izco's place to give the home side more attacking influences. He gave Milan a scare after just a minute, with a long distance shot with his left foot that went just wide.

In the 29th minute there was the first change: Pato in, allowing him to celebrate his 50th appearence in Serie A, and man of the match Inzaghi out. Soon later Bonera made his return after almost two months of absence, coming in for Beckham, and the young Mattioni, who made his debut in the league, also came in for Kaka.

For Milan, it's the first winning in 45 years at the Massimino. And by the result the Rossoneri lead four points over on third place Juventus. Juve held draw 2-2 by Lecce at Turin.


Catania: Kosicky; Silvestri, Silvestre, Stovini, Capuano; Carboni, Biagianti, Izco; Mascara; Martinez, Morimoto.

Milan: Dida; Zambrotta, Maldini, Favalli, Jankulovski; Beckham, Pirlo, Ambrosini; Seedorf; Kaka, Inzaghi.