Milans poor form goes even worse

Milans poor form goes even worse

Antonio Di Natale's goal midway through the first half secured Udinese three much-needed points this evening and condemned AC Milan to a second defeat in five Serie A games.

The Rossoneri were reduced to 10 men eight minutes from time when midfielder Mathieu Flamini saw red at the Stadio Friuli.

The Bianconeri, who headed into this match in 12th spot having collected only one win in their opening four league games, climbed five places to seventh while Leonardo's Milan slipped to 11th.

The visitors, looking for their third win of the league season, started brightly with Filippo Inzaghi getting to the byline in the fifth minute and crossing for an unmarked Alexandre Pato but Udinese goalkeeper Samir Handanovic's intervention averted the danger.

Clarence Seedorf struck a fierce 30-yard effort three minutes later which missed the top-right corner by a matter of inches.

Aleksandar Lukovic mustered the home team's first shot in the 18th minute and appeared to catch a static Marco Storari off-guard but defender Alessandro Nesta cleared.

Four minutes later, Pasquale Marino's side took the lead. Antonio Floro Flores played in Mauricio Isla, who burst into the right-hand side of the area and lashed his shot against Storari's near post, with Di Natale on hand to snaffle the rebound.

Milan came within a whisker of equalising just after the half-hour mark, when Nesta rose highest from a corner and headed powerfully against the crossbar.

The woodwork again came into play five minutes after the interval, when Di Natale picked up possession on the halfway line and forged his way all the way through to the Milan area virtually unchallenged and shot against the post.

Ronaldinho was introduced in place of Pato just before the hour as Leonardo looked to provide his side with a much-needed spark.

Storari had to be alert shortly afterwards, pulling off a fantastic save at full stretch from Simone Pepe.

Milan will consider themselves unfortunate midway through the second half when Inzaghi was given offside following a fine through-ball from Ronaldinho.

The visitors had well and truly woken from their slumber but could just not find a way past Handanovic.

Ronaldinho's mazy run ended with a neat pass for Gianluca Zambrotta whose cross was cleared out for substitute Ignazio Abate to shoot just wide.

Klaas Jan Huntelaar replaced Inzaghi in the 73rd minute and almost made an immediate impact from Andrea Pirlo's left-wing cross, but Handanovic once again stood in the way.

The Rossoneri's hopes of nicking a deserved point were hamstrung six minutes from time when former Arsenal midfielder Flamini picked up two yellow cards in the space of 70 seconds.

The visitors continued to press, but Handanovic emerged his team's hero by again saving well from the lively Ronaldinho's cross-shot in the 89th minute.