Mario Balotelli scored his first league goal in over two
months as struggling Serie A giants Milan secured a precious 3-1 win away
to
10-man Catania on Sunday.
Milan started their 14th game of the campaign 14 points off
the first Champions League qualifying place and having been rocked by the
announcement that chief executive Adriano Galliani would resign after 27 years
at the club.
Galliani's future is as yet undecided, after club owner
Silvio Berlusconi said Saturday he would remain in his post following a
restructuring.
However this result, only Milan's fourth win of the
campaign, will undoubtedly prove a huge morale boost to the Rossoneri amid what
has been another disappointing start to the season.
Catania, who were reduced to 10 men just after the hour when
Panagiotis Tachtsidis saw red for a foul on Balotelli, started brightly and
took the lead on 13 minutes when a shot by Lucas Castro deflected off Antonio
Nocerino and wrong-footed Gabriel in the Milan net.
Milan were soon back on level terms when captain Riccardo
Montolivo rushed in at the back post to beat Mariano Andujar with a splendid
first-time strike from a cross deep on the left.
Kaka spurned a chance on the half hour and minutes after the
restart Nocerino narrowly missed making contact with the Brazilian's angled
free-kick in front of goal.
Balotelli, who scored for Milan in a resounding 3-0
Champions League win away to Celtic in midweek, then spurned two chances in
succession to give Milan the lead after Montolivo had crossed for the striker.
Balotelli, however, was not to be denied and finally ended
his goal drought when he beat Andujar with a freekick on 63 minutes. It was his
first league goal since a late consolation in a 2-1 defeat at home to Napoli on
September 22.
Milan pressed home their advantage after Tachtsidis was
given his marching orders two minutes after Balotelli's goal and Kaka virtually
secured the points when he beat Andujar with a fine individual effort nine
minutes from the whistle.
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