AC Milan snatch win as Udinese waste chances

By Alberto Cagliano Feb 11, 2012, 19:02 GMT

Rome - Serie A champions AC Milan came from behind to snatch a 2-1 win at Udinese Saturday with goals from Maxi Lopez and Stephan El Shaarawy.

The Udine hosts, who were unbeaten at home, had themselves to blame after dominating through most of the game but only managing to score a goal from league top striker Antonio Di Natale.

Milan went top two points clear of Juventus, who have two games in hand after their Sunday visit at Bologna was postponed because of heavy snow.

'We played a good game. We started well, but conceded a goal and were not dangerous in the first half,' Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri said.

'In the second half the team did very well, we were more courageous. We were worried after two defeats (at Lazio in the league and with Juve in an Italian Cup semifinal) and we had to get a result against a team that won 10 of their 11 home games. The spirit with which we played made the difference.'

Udinese's 34-year-old captain Di Natale strengthened his top striker position on 17 goals, two more than Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who with Marc van Bommel was suspended for Milan at the Friuli stadium.

The striker put the Udine side ahead on 19 minutes with a drive that Marco Amelia had no chance to save after a deflection from defender Thiago Silva.

Milan struggled in the first half and had an only chance from the young Stephan El Shaarawy, who missed before the break as he tried to profit from a defence dithering.

The hosts came close with a volley from defender Danilo and a botched counter-attack effort from Maurizio Domizzi, only to be punished on 77 minutes by substitute Lopez.

The Argentine newcomer scored his first goal for the Devils with an easy tap in after a drive from El Shaarawy, who then threatened again on a defence blunder and volleyed home a late cross from Lopez.

On Thursday, Lazio moved to third place, leapfrogging Udinese and Inter Milan, as they rallied with 10 men to clinch a 3-2 win against Cesena.

Cagliari beat Palermo 2-1 late Saturday, while four games are set for Sunday, with two more to be played late Monday.