AC Milan take the Serie A lead after beating Palermo
AC Milan took the lead in the Serie A on Wednesday 10 November after defeating Palermo 3–1 at the San Siro.
Armin Bacinovic pulled Palermo level midway through the second half to cancel out Alexandre Pato's first-half header, but Zlatan Ibrahimovic's penalty and Robinho's late goal ensured Massimiliano Allegri's
team finished the game with three points.
"We knew that Palermo came here to get points, as they are a side that have a lot of quality players," Allegri said after the game, adding that his team cannot get carried away at the top of the table.
"It is too early to be speaking about the Scudetto. We are only 11 matches into the season, and the table is only now forming."
Ibrahimovic's shot just missed the goal in the 11th minute, moments before Kevin-Prince Boateng chested the ball down and hit a half-volley just wide after a Milan corner.
In the 19th minute, Pato caused the San Siro to erupt when he rose majestically on the edge of the six-yard box to head Clarence Seedorf's precise corner into the near corner of the goal.
After the break, Josip Ilicic turned on the edge of the box, laying the ball off to Javier Pastore, whose first-time shot flew over Christian Abbiati's goal.
Bacinovic pulls one back
Shortly after the hour mark, Bacinovic equalised for the away team with a well-struck shot from outside the box.
After Milan cleared a cross from the left, the ball fell to the midfielder, who took his chances and hit the ball into the ground and towards the near post with his first touch.
Abbiati, whose view was blocked by his own defence, could not get down in time to stop the strike.
Seedorf thumped a shot against the left post after Ibrahimovic's initial effort was blocked by the defence in the 69th minute. The midfielder's header on his own rebound went wide of the goal.
Ibrahimovic makes the difference
Massimo Ambrosini played a one-two with Ibrahimovic in the 77th minute before being brought down by goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu. Ibrahimovic stepped up without hesitation to send the spot kick low into
the left corner to restore his team's lead.
The Swede turned creator six minutes later, when he cut the ball back to Robinho after breaking down the left channel for the Brazilian to score Milan's third goal.
Allegri's men are now top of the table with 23 points from the first 11 games, while Palermo have 14 points in ninth place.
Tags: