AC Milan 2 Catania 0: Van Bommel sees red as Milan win

Posted Saturday, January 29, 2011 by PA

Ten-man AC Milan extended their lead at the top of Serie A to seven points thanks to a spirited 2-0 win over Catania.

The Rossoneri played most of the second half with one man less after Mark van Bommel was sent off, but they still managed to win with goals from Robinho in the 58th minute and Zlatan Ibrahimovic five minutes from the end.

Catania spent much of the second period camped in the Milan half, but there was no way through as the league leaders displayed why they are at the top of the table with a resolute victory.

Robinho was almost on the scoresheet after just 26 seconds as he looked to curl a shot inside the far corner from the edge of the penalty area, but Catania goalkeeper Mariano Andujar was not going to be caught out cold and made the save diving low to his left.

Catania's first chance fell to Ciro Capuano, but the full-back's shot on the volley was deflected wide.

Antonio Cassano had the best chance of the first half in the 44th minute, but he shot straight at Andujar after beating the offside trap to latch onto Ibrahimovic's through ball.

The second half started badly for Milan with Van Bommel given his marching orders for a second yellow card in only his second game for the club.

But they still went ahead just four minutes after being reduced to 10 men when Ibrahimovic's powerful free-kick was only parried by Andujar and Robinho followed up to convert the loose ball from close range.

Catania coach Diego Simeone sent Adrian Ricchiuti on as an extra forward for the final 25 minutes and his volley in the 74th minute which just cleared the crossbar was the closest they came to scoring.

As the home side pushed and pushed to find an equaliser, they inevitably left gaps in their defence.

An exhausted Ibrahimovic was still able to summon up the energy to test Andujar in the 79th minute and then deliver the sucker punch with five minutes to go, stealing in to meet Robinho's low cross ahead of his marker and make no mistake from close range.

Catania continued to attack for the final five minutes, but simply could not find a way through the massed ranks of Milan shirts as the league leaders picked up another three points to move further clear at the top of Serie A.