AC Milan 1 - 2 Bologna

Serie A newcomer Bologna pulled off a surprising 2-1 win over AC Milan at the San Siro on Sunday as Francesco Valiani scored with 11 minutes to play to hand his team all three points.

Marco Di Vaio gave the visitors a 1-0 lead in the 18th minute, but Milan was level before the break courtesy of a Massimo Ambrosini header. However, Bologna pulled off the upset when Valiani smashed a shot into the upper left corner from 25 yards.

Milan controlled almost all of the first half, but it was Bologna that grabbed a surprise opener.

Cristian Zenoni got the ball on the right wing and played it to Christian Amoroso at the top of the box. He then dropped the ball into the path of Di Vaio with his first touch, allowing the striker to smack a left-footed shot inside the far post.

Milan was not rattled by the goal, however, and they went back on the attack. Ronaldinho hit a close-range header right at Bologna goalkeeper Francesco Antonioli before setting up Filippo Inzaghi for a shot that he hit into the side of the net after rounding the keeper.

The equalizer came four minutes before halftime when Ronaldinho got the ball on the left and delivered a good cross to the front of goal for Ambrosini, who rose up and headed the ball home from six yards.

Andriy Shevchenko came on in the second half for Milan and he nearly put them ahead in the 55th minute. Ronaldinho got into the box on the left, danced around two defenders, and slipped a pass to Shevchenko at the back post, only for Antonioli to come off his line and make a good stop.

The home side was on the attack, but Bologna seized an unlikely lead with 11 minutes to play on a goal that came from nothing.

Bologna was on the counter attack but the team lost possession in the Milan final third. However, Valiani picked up a loose ball 30 yards from goal, took a touch, and curled a brilliant shot into the upper left corner of the net off the fingertips of Milan keeper Christian Abbiati.

The visitors then defended well to hold off the hard-charging Rossoneri over the remainder of the match.

After finishing second last season, Roma's campaign didn't start as planned either, with the team being held to a 1-1 draw by Napoli, while Torino handed newly-promoted Lecce a 3-0 defeat.

Lazio scored four times in the second half, including two from Mauro Zarate, to beat Cagliari 4-1, Atalanta slipped past Siena 1-0 on a goal from Simone Padoin, Vincenzo Italiano scored in the 88th minute to give Chievo a 2-1 win against Reggina and Catania earned a 1-0 win over Genoa on a second-half strike from Giuseppe Mascara.

In Sunday's late game, Alberto Gilardino scored in the 89th minute as 10-man Fiorentina tied Juventus 1-1. Juventus grabbed the lead in the 39th minute on goal from Pavel Nedved, but Fiorentina eventually answered minutes after Felipe Melo was sent off.

Pato Hopeful Of Ronaldo Return

Milan’s Brazilian striker Alexandre Pato would love to play alongside Ronaldo next term, despite Il Fenomeno’s injury woes.

Ronaldo, 31, is currently recovering from the knee injury which he suffered against Livorno earlier this season.

Il Fenomeno’s career hangs in the balance as the injury to his right knee could still be career-threatening. And although his recovery is going well so far, his recent altercation with three transvestite prostitutes in his native Brazil has done his legendary status no good whatsoever.

However, possible legend in the making, compatriot and team-mate Pato is hoping to play alongside his childhood hero once more.

“I would like it a lot if we could play together,” Pato, 17, told GQ magazine.

“We are really good friends.

“Ronnie is going through a rough patch at the moment. The media are always hounding him.

“Nevertheless, he has such a great character that I expect he will get over his injury and image problems.

“We talk all the time, but never about football. He always asks me how I am doing. It's crazy, Ronaldo is my idol.”

The teenage sensation also shared his opinion on the Italian game and it seems as if he had to learn fast the hard way.

“I remember Cristian Ledesma repeatedly hitting me - massacring me. I was not bothered. Actually, I like playing this way. It has made me grow up,” said Pato

“In Brazil, you get the ball and are allowed 20 seconds to look up and think about what you are going to do.

“Here, instead, you have three seconds to do something before someone like Ledesma arrives.”

Pato scored nine goals in 18 games for Milan this season and in that explosive form he is sure to be one of the best in future if he continues working hard at San Siro.

Livorno 1 - 4 Milan

Scorers: Inzaghi 23, 51, 59 (M), Seedorf 71 (M), Knezevic 73 (L)

Pippo Inzaghi grabbed a hat-trick for his eighth goal in the last four games, closing to within two points of Fiorentina in fourth!

Two important races crossed paths at the Stadio Picchi, as the Rossoneri were within four points of a Champions League spot and the Amaranto were propping up the table alongside Reggina and Empoli. Livorno held Milan to a 1-1 draw at San Siro in February, the game in which Ronaldo snapped the tendon in his knee.

Alessandro Diamanti got a starting spot after his brilliant free kick blocked Roma last week, but Luis Vigidal was still sidelined and Marco Amelia pulled out in the warm-up. Carlo Ancelotti missed Ronaldo, Paolo Maldini, Emerson, Marcos Cafu, Dario Simic, Nelson Dida and Serginho, but Marek Jankulovski was back on the bench.

Pippo Inzaghi just failed to get on the end of a Kaka cross from the left in the opening 60 seconds, while Clarence Seedorf flashed a right-foot shot across the face of goal.

Milan took the lead with a well-worked move, as Kaka sprung the offside trap and rolled across for Inzaghi to tap in from six yards. However, there was more than a suspicion of offside, as it is not clear whether he was behind the line of the ball.

Alfonso De Lucia parried a Massimo Ambrosini header and Kaka drilled well wide, but Livorno finally had their first chance on the stroke of half-time with Grandoni's cross-shot.

Inzaghi doubled the advantage with his seventh goal in four games, a precise glancing header from Daniele Bonera's cross from the right.

SuperPippo continued his incredible form with a hat-trick, a precise header from an Andrea Pirlo corner kick at the near post.

Inzaghi completed his man of the match performance with an assist for Seedorf to go past two defenders in the centre and blast it past De Lucia.

Livorno got one back with a Dario Knezevic diving header from a corner kick. Massimo Oddo made his comeback after surgery to replace Alessandro Nesta, ensuring the central defender did not get a booking that would rule him out of the derby.

Livorno: De Lucia; Melara, Grandoni, Knezevic, Galante, Pasquale; Pulzetti, A Filippini (De Vezze 55), Bergvold (Balleri 67); Diamanti; Tavano (Tristan 55)

Milan: Kalac; Bonera, Nesta (Oddo 69), Kaladze, Favalli (Jankulovski 73); Gattuso (Brocchi 61), Pirlo, Ambrosini; Kaka, Seedorf; Inzaghi

From :www.acmilan-online.com

Brazil - Sweden 1-0 Highlights

Teenager Alexandre Pato marked his international debut with an astonishing opportunist goal to give Brazil a 1-0 win over Sweden in a friendly at the Emirates Stadium.

The 72nd-minute strike was the one fitting moment of a match marking the 50th anniversary of Brazil's victory over Sweden in the 1958 World Cup final in Stockholm for the first of their five titles.

The 18-year-old chased Rami Shaaban towards the right touchline as the substitute goalkeeper looked set for an easy clearance and contrived to block it, swivel and send an exquisite left-footed lob into the unguarded net.

Starting keeper Andreas Isaksson had earlier made two saves in quick succession from Julio Baptista and Luis Fabiano, while Internazionale keeper Julio Cesar went down low to save Johan Elmander's downward header from a cross from the right.

Sweden were close again early in the second half with Julio Cesar diving to push out Sebastian Larsson's free kick from the left and the ball being cleared off the Brazil line from a corner a minute later.

Brazil playmaker Diego, put through by Pato just past the hour, had his legs clipped by substitute Mikael Dorsin inside the box as he went for goal but demands for a penalty were turned down.

Julio Cesar made a late point-blank save from Rosenberg who should have done better than shoot straight at the keeper as Sweden looked for an equaliser.

Coach Dunga's Brazil have now won two and lost one of their three friendlies at the Emirates after a victory over Argentina in 2006 and a loss to Portugal last year. They also beat Wales at White Hart Lane in 2006.

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

AC Milan 1 - 1 Lazio Highlights

Milan rested a number of players ahead of next week’s big Champions League match with Arsenal. Andrea Pirlo, Kaka, Alessandro Nesta, Massimo Ambrsoini and Filippo Inzaghi were all left out. Giuseppe Favalli was suspended, while Alexander Pato partnered Alberto Gilardino up-front.

Lazio welcomed back Valon Behrami from a ban as Delio Rossi opted for an attacking line-up including Goran Pandev, Tommaso Rocchi and Rolando Bianchi in the forward positions.

Milan made a bright start and Clarence Seedorf cut the ball back for Yoann Gourcuff, who sliced the ball wide from the edge of the area.

Seedorf was seeing a lot of the ball early on and a delightful back-flick started off a move which ended in Pato bringing out the first save of the game for Marco Ballotta.

Lazio had their first shot of the game when Lorenzo De Silvestri bombed forward from right back and go in behind Marek Jankulovski, before firing straight at Zeljko Kalac.

The away side were sitting deep and trying to hit Milan on the break, and on 26 minutes Bianchi was released down the right but he dragged his shot well wide.

All in all there were few chances in the first half-an-hour, with the predictable pattern of Milan having all the possession but struggling to unlock the opposition brick wall.

Pato burst into life on 33 minutes, losing his man, cutting inside Sebastiano Siviglia before unleashing a piledriver that Ballotta put all his weight behind.

Milan then received a blow as Seedorf picked up an injury and had to come off. He was replaced by the teenager Alberto Paloschi, meaning there were now two 18-year-olds in the Rossoneri line-up along with Pato.

There was precious little goalmouth action to report in the first half, as Bianchi hit a hopeful volley from way out on the right but it was high, wide and not very handsome.

Carlo Ancelotti used up his remaining two substitutions at half-time, bringing on Digao, Kaka’s younger brother, for his first Serie A appearance. Ambrosini was also introduced, as Emerson and Jankulovski made way.

Tommaso Rocchi came out of the blocks fast in the second half, first with a snapshot that went wide, and then with a ferocious drive that brought out a fantastic save from Kalac at his near post.

Lazio were shooting at will and Pandev forced another superb stop from Kalac, who fingertipped the Macedonian’s effort around the post.

The goal was coming and on 53 minutes Lazio did indeed take the lead as Rocchi turned the ball into the box, and Bianchi slid in to toe-poke the ball past the keeper.

The substitutions at half time had really had a negative effect on Milan, who were all over the place. Pato attempted to take the game by the scruff of the neck and flashed a volley wide of Ballotta’s post.

On 65 minutes Milan were handed a lifeline to get back into the game as Kaladze was having his shirt pulled by Behrami and the referee pointed to the spot. Oddo stepped up and fired low to Ballotta’s right to equalise.

After the goal Milan started to dominate possession again, but they still failed to open up the Lazio defence. On 75 minutes Ambrosini turned well in the area but he could not get his left foot shot on target.

Down the other end Lazio substitute Gabi Mudingayi tried his luck from long-range but his shot was well over.

On 83 minutes Pato went on an explosive counter-attack and was cynically taken out by De Silvestri, who received a straight red card. The sending off was perhaps a little harsh, however the wing-back had made no attempt to get the ball.

Milan stepped it up looking for the winner and Gourcuff let fly from 30 yards but it was straight at Ballotta. However this was the best they could muster and Lazio comfortably held on for a deserved point.

Milan: Kalac, Oddo, Bonera, Kaladze, Jankulovski (Digao 46), Gattuso, Emerson (Ambrosini 46), Gourcuff, Seedorf (Paloschi 36), Gilardino, Pato

Lazio: Ballotta, De Silvestri, Cribari, Radu, De Silvestri, Behrami (Rozenhal 88), Ledesma, Dabo (Mudingayi 60), Pandev, Rocchi, Bianchi

Pato Tells Ronaldo: That Goal Was For You

Milan star Alexandre Pato says that he thought of Ronaldo when he scored his goal against Catania last night.

The teenage sensation gave his side the lead in Sicily on 55 minutes when he rifled home a shot into the bottom corner from long-range.

"When I celebrated, I was thinking of Ronaldo. It was a good feeling, like last year when I scored in the derby for Internacional," said Pato.

The 18-year-old's goal was not enough to gain all three points for Milan, as Gionatha Spinesi equalised on 63 minues to earn the home side a share of the spoils.

"It went quite well against Catania, I scored and I hope to continue like this," Pato told the Gazzetta dello Sport.

"However I am not happy because this goal has not brought a victory to Milan."

Pato is still working his way back to full match sharpness following a nasty ankle injury against Fiorentina a few weeks ago. 'The Duck' says that he is confident that he will be back in top form for next week's big Champions League last 16 second leg tie with Arsenal.

"After my injury I am looking to be back to my best for the match against Arsenal," Pato concluded.

The first leg at the Emirates Stadium in North London last week finished goalless.

Pato set to start

Brazilian striker Ronaldo is unavailable for the Rossoneri with a long-term knee injury.

Leaders Internazionale will be without defender Ivan Cordoba and could be without striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic for the game against Sampdoria in Genoa. The Colombian Cordoba's season may be over after he injured knee ligaments in Tuesday's 2-0 defeat at Liverpool in the Champions League.

Sweden's Ibrahimovic, meanwhile, has been nursing a knee tendon injury for a few weeks and could be rested by coach Roberto Mancini.

France midfielder Patrick Vieira, however, is available for the champions, who are unbeaten in Serie A this season, after serving a two-match suspension.

Midfielder Sergio Volpi is suspended for Sampdoria, who have climbed to seventh thanks to some inspirational performances by on-loan Real Madrid forward Antonio Cassano.

Brazilian defender Juan is likely to miss Roma's home game against fourth-placed Fiorentina because of an ankle knock he suffered in Tuesday's 2-1 win over Real Madrid.

Milan Not Just Pato, Warns Leonardi

Udinese will face Milan in the next matchday of Serie A this weekend, and general director Pietro Leonardi warns not to focus too much on Alexandre Pato.

The Friulani will be hosting the Rossoneri on Sunday in what is in many ways a six-pointer for fourth place in Serie A.

General director Leonardi spoke about the upcoming clash, and Pato.

"On Sunday we will be up against Milan and Pato," he said to 'Radio Kiss Kiss'. "He is a player of great promise.

"If they had registered him a couple of weeks later, it would have been better for us.

"However, the Rossoneri are not just about Pato. They have many other players who can make the difference. We are proud to face such a team."

Leonardo then went to speak about Fabio Quagliarella, who has not exactly settled in smoothly.

"He's proving to have a good attitude. He had some acclimatization difficulties at first, but it's always like that in his career.

"Now he has integrated perfectly, and can give a lot to the team, and also get some continuity to become a great player."

Pato, the latest teenage sensation from Brazil, waiting in the wings at AC Milan

He started playing at the age of three, joined his first club at 11, and has been hailed as a future great by the legendary Pele. Can Alexandre Rodrigues da Silva live up to the hype?

It has taken just 15 years for Alexandre Rodrigues da Silva to progress his football career from an indoor school in Brazil, where he started at the age of three, to his present status as blossoming world star at AC Milan.

He joined Internatcional in Porto Alegre at the age of 11, living in dormitories with scores of other young hopefuls and playing for the youth teams. But in November, last year, he made his first team debut for Internacional at the age of 17, helping them to a 4-1 win over Palmeiras.

Pato created three of the goals and scored the other goal himself to announce his arrival to the world. His appearance spotlighted the young fantasist and created expectations and comparisons with various Brazilian superstars like Kaka and Ronaldinho.

He scored Internacional's first goal of the FIFA Club World Cup on December 13 in the semi-final game against Al-Ahly Cairo, helping his team to win the match 2-1 for a place in the final, which Internacional went on to win.

Pato was destined to join AC Milan and it was no surprise when he signed for them in August in a deal said to be around 22million Euros, which was the minimum buy-out clause in his Internacional contract.

But because of Italian football regulations that state non-EU minors may not be registered in Italy, Pato will not be able to play official matches for Milan until January 3, 2008, when the Italian transfer window reopens. But he has started training with the team and is allowed to play in exhibition games (which he has already done, and scored).


He already has a glowing reputation among retired and active stars. His control, deft touches, power and work rate have been compared with Kaka, and his dribbling and passing accuracy with that of Ronaldinho. Even the legendary Pele described him as "an extraordinary player promising to be the most professional footballer the world has ever seen."

Galliani On Pato: I Am Told He Is Extraordinary

Milan Vice-President Adriano Galliani is excited over the prospect of Brazilian wonderkid Alexandre Pato and says that star-striker Ronaldo is recovering well from injury.

The 18-year-old Pato signed for Milan from Internacional in the summer. However due to Italian football regulations regarding non-EU minors, he is ineligible to play competitively for the European Champions until January.

Nicknamed ‘The Duck’, the translation of his surname and place of birth, Pato is regarded as one of the most exciting young prospects in world football in recent years.

"They tell me extraordinary things about him, the players as well as the coach and I read the same things on the newspapers,” said Galliani.

“However he is only 18, let's not put too much pressure on him and give him too much responsibility.

“His purchase was a very precise political decision on our part, we always believed in this player and we knew we had to wait four months for him when he was bought. In January we will see whether we made the right choice.”

Galliani also offered another update on Ronaldo’s injury situation. The ex-Real Madrid star has yet to play for the Rossoneri this season.

"The doctors tell me Ronaldo is doing well, as do Maldini, Serginho, Kaladze, and Digao. Unfortunately we have five players out at the moment, but they are all recovering," Galliani concluded.

Emerson: Pato Is The New Bebeto

Emerson has dubbed Pato the new Bebeto in a homage to both the AC Milan youngster and, perhaps, the former Deportivo La Coruna legend.

Bebeto, who scored 42 goals for Brazil between 1985 and 1998, is still held in extremely high regard in Brazil, and Emerson has signalled that Pato could one day do the same.

"For a 17 year old he displays great personality, and great class... I'd compare him to Bebeto, for his class and his ability to score," 'Puma' Emerson said of Pato.

Emerson played alongside Bebeto in the 1998 World Cup finals squad, and could potentially do the same with Pato in three years' time.

For now, though, he is focused on AC Milan, complete with its own contingent of samba stars.

In an online chat session with fans on ACMilan.com, he said, "I'm feeling very happy here in Milan.

"And with all these Brazilians [Kaka, Pato etc.] I feel even more at home.

"[Carlo] Ancelotti is a great coach, too. He knows how to instill great calm and tranquility into the squad, says the right things, and does well by the players on the pitch.

"[Former coach at Real Madrid Fabio] Capello is a very serious boss, but Ancelotti jokes around with us players, and the atmosphere is generally more relaxed."

Emerson, 31, was accused by some Madrid fans of being over the hill last season, but the ex-Juventus midfielder insists that this is far from the truth.

"My physical preparation at the moment is fine," he claimed.

"My desire today is the same as it was with the club that launched my professional career, Gremio of Porto Alegre."

Emerson, looking back to his own days of a 17 year old, claimed that his own mentor growing up was Zico, who scored 66 goals in 88 appearances for Brazil.

PATO PLEASED TO BE OFF THE MARK

AC Milan youngster Alexandre Pato is delighted to have scored his first goal for the Rossoneri, albeit in a friendly.

The 17-year-old Brazilian, who joined the European champions in the summer, netted in his side's 2-2 draw with Dynamo Kiev in a match to mark the 80th birthday of the Ukrainian club.

Pato, who scored in the 44th minute, told www.acmilan.com from the Dynamo training camp: "It's not the first time I have scored with my head.

"I got a similar goal for the Brazil Under-20 side. I remain at the disposition of the team. I can play as an out and out striker and I also like to communicate with my team-mates in midfield."

Ancelotti Gushing Over Pato Debut

Carlo Ancelotti was full of praise for Alexandre Pato following the Brazilian's impressive debut in a Milan shirt.

Alexandre Pato made a great debut in yesterday's friendly against Dinamo Kiev, even scoring with a first half header to spark Milan's comeback, and Carlo Ancelotti could not be more delighted.

"Alexandre played very well and immediately showed his quality," Ancelotti told Milan Channel. "You can see that he is a talented player, both with and without the ball.

"All he needs to do is gain experience as he is so quick, agile and cunning. Aerial balls aren’t his speciality, but he netted from a header.

"He can do anything in attack as he reads the game well and comes to get the ball."

Alberto Gilardino scored Milan's second goal, and the much-criticized striker was pleased: "It’s always nice to score, even in a friendly.

"We played well and Pato integrated quickly. He’s a great player with so much technical ability for his age."

Pato Scores As Milan Share Spoils With Dinamo Kiev

Dinamo Kiev celebrated their 80th anniversary by playing a friendly against European champions AC Milan, which finished 2-2.

Milan came from two goals down to secure a draw against Dynamo Kiev in the friendly to mark the 80th anniversary of the Ukrainian club.

With former Milan striker Andriy Shevchenko watching from the sidelines, much-hyped Brazilian wonder-kid Alexandre Pato made an impressive debut, even scoring a goal.

The Milan defence had serious difficulties at the start, as Dinamo opened the scoring after only six minutes with a header by Artem Milevskiy, who was found all alone inside the area.

After some more chances for the home side, with Brazilian defender Digao making a crucial goal line clearance, Pato fashioned a chance for Milan out of nothing in the 19th minute.

However, his assist found Alberto Gilardino in an offside position, so his 'goal' was called off.

Two minutes after that, it was 2-0 for the home side, as Goran Gavrancic fired a precise diagonal shot after a scrappy move.

Following the second goal Milan improved, and Pato had his first shot on goal, a left-footer which required the goalkeeper to make a good save, in the 23rd minute.

Shortly thereafter, Pato was again in the spotlight, as he played a nice one-two with Pierre Aubameyang, but fired his shot wide from a good position.

The impressive young Brazilian finally got his reward just before half-time, as he headed in a cross from the right by Daniele Bonera to give Milan a lifeline going into the second half.

Only five minutes into the restart, Gilardino finally got his long-awaited goal, as he controlled the ball with his chest, before dribbling past the goalkeeper and slotting into an empty net.

There were to be no more goals after this equaliser, although Pato continued to impress, distributing precise passes and showing strong overall technique. There were also some moments of glory for long-time Milan substitute keeper Valerio Fiori, who was on hand to prevent Dinamo making 3-2 on several occasions in the final part of the game.

In the final minutes, there was even some room for coach Carlo Ancelotti's son Davide, who plays with the Milan youth team and came in two minutes before the end of this match.


Starting Formations:

DINAMO KIEV (4-4-2): Rybka; Fedorov, Ghioane, Shatskikh, Milevskiy, Vaschchuk, Gavrancic, Ninkovic, Yussuf, Marcovic, Maikl.
COACH: Demyanenko.
AVAILABLE: Garmashi, Klèber, Belkevich, Aliev, Lutsenko, Eschhenko, Rodrigo.

MILAN (4-4-2): Kalac; Bonera, Nesta, Digao, Favalli; Cafu, Brocchi, Emerson, W. Aubameyang; Pato, Gilardino.
COACH: Ancelotti.
AVAILABLE: Fiori, D. Ancelotti, Furlan, Caraglia, Rampinini, Cosner, P. Aubameyang.

RONALDO WANTS QUICK DEBUT FOR PATO

AC Milan striker Ronaldo is convinced his new team-mate and fellow Brazilian Alexandre Pato is already capable of playing in Serie A.

Pato, 17, was signed from Internacional last week but will not be eligible for the Milan first team until after Christmas.

Ronaldo, 30, believes that when he is eligible Pato should immediately be blooded by the Rossoneri.

Ronaldo told www.gazzetta.it: "I think he (Pato) is ready for our championship.

"There are no norms that say if you do not weight enough or are not old enough - it depends what you can do with the ball."

(re-opens) Another AC Milan striker, Alberto Gilardino, also believes Pato has great potential.

"Pato must not fear anything," the Italian World Cup winner told the club's official website, www.acmilan.com.

"I saw him on TV, he has great qualities. We must let him work with tranquility without putting any pressure on him and I think he can become a great player.

"He already is and in this environment he can become even greater."

Gilardion Believes In Pato Power

AC Milan forward Alberto Gilardino has become the latest Rossonero to sing the praises of the club’s new signing Alexandre Pato.

The 20m euro acquisition of the Brazilian teenage sensation certainly has caught the imagination of everyone involved at the club and ‘Gila’ believes that Pato has everything it takes to become a future great.

"He has great quality and we must leave him alone to work without any pressure,” said the Azzurri striker, who hasn't exactly had the easiest time dealing with the pressure of being a high profile Milan signing himself.

“He's already a great player and in this atmosphere I'm sure he can still become even better," Gilardino added.

Due to Italian football regulations that state non-EU minors may not be registered in Italy, Pato will not be able to play official matches for Milan until January 3, 2008. He will, however, be eligible to start training with his new teammates starting on September 3, one day after his 18th birthday.

AC Milan signs Brazil teenager Pato, Chiellini staying at Juve

MILAN, Italy: AC Milan has signed Brazilian under-20 striker Alexandre Pato on a five-year contract.

Milan reportedly paid Brazil's Internacional €22 million (US$30 million) for the 17-year-old Pato, who was also being chased by Inter Milan, Real Madrid and Chelsea. He will earn €2 million (US$2.73 million) per season.

"He's a great talent," Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti said Friday at news conference in Moscow where the Rossoneri are playing a preseason tournament with Lokomotiv Moscow, PSV Eindhoven, and Real. "He has quality but is seen as a prospect."

Pato, who is expected to arrive in Milan on Saturday, will not be able to represent his new club in official games until January because of licensing restrictions. He will be eligible for friendly matches from Sept. 3, a day after his 18th birthday.

"Pato is a young guy, very good, but he has to be left the necessary time to grow and mature," Ancelotti said. "Milan decided to invest in a young man that can help us in the future, because the European Champion team is fine as it is and difficult to improve."