Serie A Week 34: Milan - Reggina

Kaka ( p.k. ) 1-0
Milan knew they simply had to win this game in order to keep their Champions League qualifying hopes alive, but they were without the injured Paolo Maldini, Marek Jankulovski, Emerson and Ronaldo. Daniele Bonera and Massimo Ambrosini were suspended.

Reggina were minus the injured Jose Montiel and Maurizio Lanzaro, while Emmanel Cascione was serving a ban.

Milan had a half-chance in the first minute, as the ball fell to Christian Brocchi in the area, and the midfielder smashed a half volley into the sidenetting.

Reggina’s intentions were clear from the start, as they sat back and tried to launch counter-raids. A fine eight-pass move ended with Francesco Cozza drilling wide from 25 yards.

Milan broke the deadlock on eight minutes, as Kaka was upended by in the area by Francesco Modesto following a mazy run. The Brazilian picked himself up and sent Andrea Campagnolo the wrong way.

Kaka immediately looked for a second and his cross-shot almost looped over Campagnolo, who tipped the ball over. From the resulting corner, Pippo Inzaghi headed over.

Campagnolo was a busy man and this time he had to save with his feet to deny Kakha Kaladze after Andrea Pirlo's brilliant through pass.

Kaka meanwhile was unstoppable. He raced past Edgar Barreto and shot wide, before volleying another effort over.

Reggina tried to work their way into the game, and Luca Vigiani found space for a shot, but Zeljko Kalac was equal to his effort.

Inzaghi was busy as usual up-front, and he got in front of his man to head wide from Cafu’s right-wing cross. The link-up play between Inzaghi and Kaka was superb at times, and on the half-hour mark, the two combined for the Brazilian to volley a thumping an effort that was excellently saved by Campagnolo.

Just moments later Milan found their second goal, as Clarence Seedorf nutmegged Vigiani before the Reggina midfielder brought him down. Again Kaka stepped up, and again he sent Campagnolo the wrong way, this time placing the ball in the opposite corner.

It seemed all too easy for Milan, but Reggina got back into the game on 39 minutes as Edgar Barreto unleashed a stunning 30 yard strike that flew into the top corner like a ballistic missile.

Reggina could have then found an equalizer as Franco Brienza scuffed a shot wide, following some uncertainty in the Milan defence.

Just before half time, Milan were twice inches away from regaining their two-goal cushion. First Seedorf fired a vicious 30-yard shot inches wide, before Campagnolo pulled off another great save, finger-tipping a Pirlo curler around the post.

Reggina had a blow at the start of the second half, as their goalscorer Barreto was stretchered off in agony with a knee injury, and was replaced by Simone Missiroli.

Inzaghi lost his man inside the box, but could not direct Brocchi’s cross on target, while Kaka went on another slalom run before he was eventually stopped by Luca Tognozzi.

Reggina were still creating chances of their own though every now and then, and Vigiani headed over from just two yards out, following a corner from the left.

Inzaghi was a constant nuisance for the Reggina defence, and he wriggled past Carlos Valdez, before scuffing the ball wide.

Campagnolo again kept his side in the game just past the hour mark, as he flicked Pirlo’s swerving shot over the bar. Inzaghi then raced through on goal following a delightful Kaka back-flick but Campagnolo denied the striker with his feet.

Down the other end a mistake by Alessandro Nesta eventually led to Cozza heading over from just a few yards out.

On 68 minutes Milan finally restored their two-goal advantage as the ball broke to Kaka inside the area, and he curled a low shot into the far corner to complete a superb hat-trick.

Reggina refused to give in, and Cozza forced a smart stop out of Kalac at his near post from a fee-kick, before there were huge claims for a penalty following an apparent hand ball by Kaladze inside the area.

On 73 minutes the game was well and truly put beyond doubt as Inzaghi finally got the goal he deserved. Substitute Alexandre Pato crashed a shot against the post, and SuperPippo reacted quickest to put away the rebound.

Inzaghi then missed a chance to grab a second as he scuffed a volley after more good work by Pato.

Just two minutes from time Milan added further gloss to the scoreline by adding a fifth goal. Pato, who had been lively since coming on, headed into the top corner from substitute Yoann Gourcuff’s cross.

The final whistle sounded soon after, as the Rossoneri stay in the hunt for a Champions League place.