MISSION ACCOMPLISHED
11/1/2006 11:48:00 PM
Milan got back to winning ways as Ricky Kakà hit a hat-trick and Alberto Gilardino the other in the a 4-1 win over Anderlecht in their Champions League tie.
Milan eased past Anderlecht to tighten their grip at the top of Group H of the Champions League. Ricky Kakà led an inspired performance as the Brazilian netted a hat-trick while Alberto Gilardino scored his first goal in the competition.
However, the evening did not get off to the best of starts when Kakha Kaladze was injured in the warm-up and Marek Jankulovski was drafted in off the bench. Then moments into the game, Alessandro Nesta was forced off with a shoulder problem. Despite another reshuffle, Milan were in control of the game and Kakà fired in a penalty after Roland Juhasz tripped Gilardino and soon after the 24 year old ghosted in from the left to unleash an unstoppable shot into the top corner of the net.
The third goal was an all-Brazilian affair as Kakà exchanged one-touch passes with Marcos Cafu before tucking away a right-footed shot from inside the area. The Belgians came back into the game when Juhasz headed home but Cristian Brocchi's long pass picked out Gilardino to thump in the fourth and set the Rossoneri up nicely for Sunday's visit to Atalanta.