AC Milan vs Chievo Verona - Review and Highlights

MILAN, November 16 ( Serie A )

Kaka converted a controversial penalty to give AC Milan a barely-deserved victory over a Chievo Verona side who are now bottom of Serie A.

Referee Andrea De Marco harshly pointed to the spot in the 15th minute, adjudging Kaka to have been felled by Davide Mandelli and the current FIFA World Player of the Year duly converted.

Chievo desperately sought the equaliser but luck was not on their side and although they were clearly the better side on the night, their fifth defeat on the trot leaves them propping up the rest.

Injury-ravaged Milan, meanwhile, continue to keep up the pressure on leaders Inter Milan and are still just a point behind their neighbours.

Long-term injury victims Alessandro Nesta and Andrea Pirlo have been joined on the sidelines by Massimo Ambrosini and Paolo Maldini while Marco Borriello, Luca Antonini and Gianluca Zambrotta were ruled out late on.

Those changes perhaps go someway to explaining Milan's lethargic performance as they appeared to be on the back foot from the off.

Chievo could have taken the lead in the fifth minute as they raced downfield on the counter-attack and Sergio Pellissier almost managed to nip around Kakha Kaladze, but Milan goalkeeper Christian Abbiati was alert to the danger and came rushing out of his area to clear.

The Rossoneri almost shot themselves in the foot in the 11th minute as defender Daniele Bonera headed his clearance onto Pellissier but fortunately for him, Abbiati was on hand to spare his blushes.

However, Chievo's good start came to nothing as Milan were awarded a very soft penalty in the 15th minute when Kaka was tripped as he tried to get on the end of Ronaldinho's through-ball.

Chievo were adamant that the incident had happened outside the area but their protests were to no avail and Kaka stepped up to fire Milan into the lead.

The hosts had one of their few opportunities to double their advantage shortly before the half hour mark as Ronaldinho dribbled his way past two defenders before crossing into an unmarked Filippo Inzaghi who unselfishly volleyed the ball to Kaka but the Brazilian woefully mishit his effort over the bar.

They were almost made to rue that missed opportunity as Abbiati had to react well to save Siqueira Luciano's header.

Milan were slightly better after the break and could have added to their lead four minutes after the restart as Inzaghi just failed to get on the end of Gennaro Gattuso's cross but it rolled through to Ronaldinho who saw his effort well saved by Stefano Sorrentino.

Chievo came close to equalising in stunning fashion on the hour mark but Abbiati did well at full stretch to parry Simone Bentivogli's 35-yard screamer.

Alexandre Pato missed an incredible opportunity to score 10 minutes later as Ronaldinho picked him out with a brilliant ball, but the young Brazilian, inches away from Sorrentino, somehow contrived to head well wide.

Milan's Brazilian trio almost wrapped up the game nine minutes from time as Kaka raced past two defenders before passing to Ronaldinho who slotted a through ball to an unmarked Pato only for him to shoot straight at Sorrentino who was able to turn it away.

AC Milan vs Chievo Verona - 1 : 0
1:0 - 15' Kaka (Penalty Goal)