Serie A: AC Milan 1:0 Fiorentina - match report
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Source: Football Italia

Scorer: Ronaldinho pen 78 (M)

A late Ronaldinho penalty mathematically secured a Champions League spot for Milan thanks to a 1-0 win over Fiorentina.

Both giants were struggling to stay afloat and ending the campaign with a whimper. Leonardo admitted this week he was "incompatible" with President Silvio Berlusconi and likely to leave. He adopted a 'heavy' trident attack with Clarence Seedorf in support, but missed David Beckham Alexandre Pato, Alessandro Nesta, Ignazio Abate and Oguchi Onyewu. Fiorentina changed system by dropping Juan Manuel Vargas for an extra midfielder. Mario Alberto Santana, Manuel Pasqual, Alessandro Gamberini, Dias Felipe and Gianluca Comotto were out of action.

The Viola had the first chance, as Riccardo Montolivo won back the ball in midfield and combined with Stevan Jovetic before his low strike was fingertipped round the post by Nelson Dida. From the corner Alberto Gilardino's acrobatic scissor-kick was well held.

Klaas-Jan Huntelaar controlled a cross to strike against the side-netting on the volley.

Milan had a great chance after 15 minutes when a corner came to Ronaldinho's header from six yards, but it was kept out by a desperate Cristiano Zanetti goalline clearance.

Huntelaar had penalty appeals for a tussle with De Silvestri, but play continued and Marco Borriello drilled wide. At the other end Gilardino couldn't quite squeeze a shot away from close range when surrounded by three defenders.

Ronaldinho's mazy run forced a save from Sebastien Frey's outstretched foot at the near post. From the corner, Huntelaar got a nasty cut to his eye in an accidental clash with Massimo Gobbi.

The Rossoneri should've gone in front after 41 minutes. A corner came out to Gianluca Zambrotta, whose shot turned into an assist for Ronaldinho's header, but Frey flew to palm it out from under the bar from point-blank range in a sensational save.

Frey punched away a Ronaldinho free kick from the outside corner of the box, but Dinho was rightly booked for a dive in the penalty area.

After the restart Seedorf blasted off target, while Ronaldinho's cross flashed past Huntelaar in the six-yard box.

Vargas replaced the ineffective Marco Marchionni, but lost Jovetic to injury for Adem Ljajic moments later.

Seedorf was tripped just outside the box and Ronaldinho's free kick went round the wall, forcing a great flying save out of Frey.

Fiorentina introduced striker Keirrison for midfielder Zanetti, returning to a more attacking system.

The Rossoneri continued to dominate in terms of chances, as Ronaldinho rolled the ball between two defenders for the on-rushing Seedorf to fire a screamer over the bar from the D.

As a last throw of the dice, Leonardo threw on Amantino Mancini and Pippo Inzaghi for Seedorf and Huntelaar. Within minutes it paid off, as the referee pointed to the spot for a Per Kroldrup two-footed tackle on Borriello, although it could be argued he got the ball. Ronaldinho stepped up and converted at the near post despite Frey getting a fingertip to it.

Vargas attempted a long-range snapshot that almost surprised Dida, who punched it away.

Milan ended the game with 10 men, as captain Massimo Ambrosini picked up a second yellow card for bringing down Gilardino on the edge of the box. Vargas thumped the resulting free kick over the bar.

Luca Antonini got the slightest of touches to take a cross away from De Silvestri deep into stoppages. Dida smothered a dipping free kick from Vargas in the last chance of the game.

Milan: Dida; Zambrotta, Thiago Silva, Favalli, Antonini; Ambrosini, Pirlo, Seedorf (Mancini 75); Huntelaar (Inzaghi 75), Borriello, Ronaldinho (Flamini 81)

Fiorentina: Frey; De Silvestri, Kroldrup, Natali, Gobbi; Zanetti (Keirrison 67), Bolatti, Montolivo; Marchionni (Vargas 56), Jovetic (Ljajic 59); Gilardino

Ref: Russo

Sent off: Ambrosini 87 (M)

You can watch match highlights on Free Soccer Highlights.

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