Rome, Feb 13 (DPA) Klaas-Jan Huntelaar proved to be a valid replacement for the injured Marco Borriello as he scored a brace for AC Milan Friday in a 3-2 defeat of Udinese.
The Devils moved to second place seven points adrift of Serie A leaders Inter Milan, who face a tough visit at Napoli late Sunday.
The game was unusually played Friday evening to allow Milan an extra day of rest ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League final-16 home tie against Manchester United, whose coach Alex Ferguson watched the game at the Giuseppe Meazza.
In the chilly Milanese night, the seldom-fielded Dutchman Huntelaar on seven minutes had the better of goalkeeper Samir Handanovic to nod home a precise cross from Ronaldinho.
The Udine side came close on nine minutes as Antonio Di Natale missed a close-range deflection by a hairsbreadth shortly before Milan’s Pato returned from an injury layoff coming on for his limping Brazil compatriot Mancini.
Milan offered the guests good chances to level as Ignazio Abate and goalkeeper Dida botched two easy clearances, but still managed a two-goal lead through Pato on 39 minutes.
A long, defence-splitting feed from Ronaldinho perfectly set up the speedy striker for a break into the area he finished off with a flick into the empty goal.
League top striker Di Natale also displayed great accuracy just before the break as his taut cross allowed Antonio Floro Flores a header that Dida only managed to scrape with his fingertips.
A defence dithering helped the Devil secure the win on 57 minutes as Huntelaar fired unmarked in the area after a deflected free kick from Ronaldinho.
Di Natale missed a header and a counter-attack flick, but notched his 17th goal with four minutes left, beating Dida in another counter-attack action.
The Devils’ win came hours after the signing of a 60-million euros ($81 million) sponsoring contract with Emirates Airline, a Dubai-based company whose name will be on the team’s jersey in the next five seasons.
Emirates, who already supports Arsenal, Hamburger FC and Paris Saint-Germain, has been a minority sponsor of the Milanese side since 2007.
rounak