Serie A: Palermo 3:1 AC Milan - match report
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Source: Football Italia

Scorers: Bovo 9 (P), Abel Hernandez 19 (P), Seedorf 55 (M), Miccoli 69 (P)

Cesare Bovo, Abel Hernandez and a glorious Fabrizio Miccoli strike saw Milan hammered 3-1 in Palermo.

It was fifth against third at the Barbera and on current form the Rosanero were favourites. Leonardo had precious few choices available, as Marco Borriello, Daniele Bonera and Massimo Ambrosini sat out bans. The injury list included Alexandre Pato, Alessandro Nesta, David Beckham, Ignazio Abate, Mathieu Flamini, Kakha Kaladze and Giuseppe Favalli. Dorin Goian was suspended for Palermo, while Mark Bresciano and Fabio Simplicio were sidelined.

Milan have only ever won here once since Palermo returned to the top flight six years ago, in 2005-06.

The Sicilians had a bright start and took the lead thanks to some dismal defending. A Fabrizio Miccoli corner was flicked on to the back post, where Cesare Bovo was left blissfully unmarked to side-foot home from a couple of yards.

Marek Jankulovski was playing in a more advanced position, but scuffed well wide after combining with Ronaldinho on the edge of the box. An audacious Antonio Nocerino volley was over.

The Rosanero made it 2-0 with a well-worked team move. Massimo Oddo was playing as a makeshift centre-back and he was caught in possession for Miccoli to immediately release Abel Hernandez, the angled drive leaving Nelson Dida no chance.

Milan had a chance handed to them after 25 minutes. A lucky ricochet allowed Huntelaar to turn in the box, but Salvatore Sirigu got down well to smother.

Sirigu punched away a dangerous Jankulovski cross from the left, while the goalkeeper flew to fingertip an Andrea Pirlo dipping strike out from under the crossbar.

Huntelaar and Giulio Migliaccio headers were wide, but it was nearly 3-0 when Seedorf gave the ball away for Miccoli's daisy-cutter that Dida pushed round the near post.

Seedorf tried to make up for it with a volley from a corner kick that was deflected off target following good work from Huntelaar.

Straight after the restart a Miccoli effort was charged down by Gianluca Zambrotta for a corner.

Seedorf got Milan back into the game with a well-taken goal. Pirlo and Ronaldinho paved the way with through balls for Seedorf to be released in the box and slide it past Sirigu at the near post from eight yards.

Pippo Inzaghi was thrown on for Zambrotta, as Leonardo tried to complete the comeback moving Jankulovski to left-back and Seedorf to midfield.

Just as the Rossoneri were dominating and pouring forward, Miccoli struck to extend Palermo's lead against the run of play. Fabio Liverani threaded it through for Miccoli to turn, but the finish was exquisite, as he curled a brilliant right-foot strike into the top corner as if it was remote controlled. It was his 20th goal in 36 games in all competition this season.

Pastore should've made it 4-1 when Liverani's beautiful ball over the top completed the duet, but Dida did well to throw himself at the Argentine like a human shield.

Inzaghi thought he had made it 3-2 when rolling past Sirigu in a one-on-one, but the offside flag was raised.

Dida made another save at the near post from Edinson Cavani on the counter. Inzaghi was on side moments later, but prodded wide when Huntelaar was unmarked standing next to him.

Dida again twice parried from Cavani after tearing the Milan defence to shreds. In the final minute Pirlo's shot was deflected inches wide of the target.
Palermo: Sirigu; Cassani, Kjaer, Bovo, Balzaretti; Migliaccio (Bertolo 64), Liverani (Blasi 89), Nocerino; Pastore; Abel Hernandez (Cavani 57), Miccoli

Milan: Dida; Zambrotta (Inzaghi 61), Oddo, Thiago Silva, Antonini; Gattuso, Pirlo, Jankulovski (De Vito 79); Seedorf (Mancini 87); Huntelaar, Ronaldinho

Ref: Romeo

You can watch match highlights on Free Soccer Highlights.

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