Pato Terrorises Torino In Milan Win

Alexandre Pato grabbed the only goal of the game as Milan picked up a deserved 1-0 win over Torino at the Stadio Olimpico in Turin.

Torino came into this game without the injured trio of Matteo Sereni, Gianluca Comotto and Simone Barone, with Comotto out for the rest of the season. Nikola Lazetic was suspended.

Milan, who like their hosts had lost two on the trot in Serie A, were robbed of the services of Serginho, Cafu, Ronaldo, Filippo Inzaghi and Kaka.

Torino had the first chance of the game on nine minutes as Roberto Stellone used his strength to hold off Kakha Kaladze, and he fired in a left-foot shot which flashed into the side netting.

Milan then had a couple of dangerous free-kicks in a matter of minutes. First Andrea Pirlo, and then Clarence Seedorf, forced fine saves from Alberto Fontana.

The Rossoneri were looking dangerous from set-pieces. Pirlo fired in another piledriver from long-range on 23 minutes which Fontana beat away.

Seedorf had been Milan's best player in the first half-hour, and he connected sweetly with a volley that went just wide. Pato also unsuccessfully tried his luck from the edge of the box with a turn-and-shot.

Down the other end, a misunderstanding in the Milan area gifted Vincenzo Grella a shooting opportunity, but he didn't connect well with his effort.

On 36 minutes Torino were inches away from taking the lead as Aimo Diana surged past Pirlo on the right, and his ball across the six yard box was deflected agonizingly past Zeljko Kalac's near post.

Paolo Maldini bombed forward down the left and did brilliantly to find Gilardino inside the area, who laid the ball off to Pato eight yards out, but with the goal at his mercy the youngster fired over with the aid of deflection. From the resulting corner Alessandro Nesta headed over when unmarked at the back post.

Gennaro Gattuso then launched another Milan attack with a superb goal-saving block on Stellone. Gilardino found himself in space but he sliced horribly wide.

Milan were completely dominant now, and there was still time before the referee blew his first half whistle, for Massimo Oddo to flash a blistering half-volley over the bar.

The Rossoneri started the second half just how they finished the first, with Gilardino wasting a great attacking position following good work from Seedorf and Pirlo.

On 52 minutes Torino had the best chance of the game thus far as Stellone went past both Pirlo and Gattuso, and played in Rosina, but the little winger was denied by a miraculous goal-saving tackle from Kaladze.

The game was really opening up now with some end-to-end stuff. Gattuso's cross ricocheted off Marco Di Loreto in the six-yard box, but Fontana made a wonderful reaction save.

Rosina, who had been looking much brighter since the break, then wound up from distance, but his shot was well over.

On the hour-mark Milan missed their best chance of the match as Oddo's cross was flicked on by Pato to Seedorf, who was all alone at the back post in acres of space, but he slammed the ball against the crossbar.

Milan were turning up the screw and Pato chipped a delightful pass over the defence to Gilardino, but the World Cup winner was denied by a brilliant flying save from the onrushing Fontana.

The goal was coming and Milan finally broke the deadlock on 66 minutes as Gilardino did excellently to round Fontana, and turn the ball towards goal, and Pato was on hand to force the ball over the line.

Five minutes later it was almost two following some superb play from that man Pato, who drew three men towards him before squaring to Seedorf, who saw his right-foot drive saved by Fontana's legs.

Torino would not give up, in particular Stellone, who chased down yet another lost cause and got to the ball before Kalac, but the giant Aussie beat his effort away. Substitute Nicola Ventola turned the rebound wide.

Milan captain Paolo Maldini had again defied his years with another brilliant performance, and he was offered a standing ovation by the Olimpico crowd when he was replaced by Giuseppe Favalli on 80 minutes.

Pato was on fire, and he twisted and turned past his man on the edge of the box, and fizzed in a shot that Fontana gathered at the second attempt.

Torino tried everything to spark a comeback, but in truth it was Milan who looked more likely of adding to their lead in the closing minutes, with Seedorf firing just wide, and Pirlo and substitute Christian Brocchi testing Fontana.

Milan held out comfortably for a deserved win, and in the process continued the chase for a Champions League place.

Torino: Fontana, Diana (Motta 85), Natali, Di Loreto, Pisano, Rosina, Grella, Corini (Ventola 70), Zanetti, Stellone, Di Michele (Recoba 72)

Milan: Kalac, Oddo, Nesta, Kaladze, Maldini (Favalli 80), Gattuso (Brocchi 66), Ambrosini, Brocchi, Seedorf, Pato (Emerson 86), Gilardino