AC Milan 1:0 Sao Paulo - Kingsley Boateng the match winner as Allegri's men clinch third

The Rossoneri were victorious in an uneventful Audi Cup third-placed playoff at the Allianz Arena, with the young forward striking the game's lone goal early in the second half

AC Milan secured third place in the Audi Cup with a narrow 1-0 win over Sao Paolo at the Allianz-Arena on Thursday.

The Rossoneri hit the bar in an otherwise drab first-half, but substitute Kingsley Boateng needed only eight minutes of the second period to break the deadlock with a cool finish.

It turned out to be the only goal of the game, as the Brazilian side failed to mount a serious case for an equaliser, leaving Massimiliano Allegri's men as victors in the penultimate match of the pre-season tournament, whose final is contested by Bayern Munich and Manchester City later on Thursday.

Though Milan largely dictated the tempo during the opening exchanges, it was Sao Paulo who had the first genuine sight on goal, from which Ganso was left hanging his head at his failure to break the deadlock.

New Rossoneri signing Jherson Vergara was a bundle of nerves with the ball at his feet, promptly surrendering possession to Silvinho, who squared to the former Santos man eight yards from goal, but his finish was weak and parried by Marco Amelia.

The match had all the makings of a forgettable pre-season friendly, with a conspicuous lack of urgency from either side, with Milan struggling to break down Sao Paulo’s numbers at the back.

Such was the congestion in the middle that the Italians often took to the flanks to attempt to make headway, but their deliveries from wide areas were sorely lacking, with Urby Emanuelson particularly wasteful with his crossing.

Cristante slipped in M’Baye Niang for a clear run on goal that was questionably called offside, but the 18-year-old midfielder was caught napping at the other end of the pitch, coughing up the ball to Aloisio, who was thwarted by Amelia from close range.

But the best chance of the first half fell to the Italian side minutes before the break. Niang, the liveliest player of the first half, drove at the defence, and squared to Andrea Petagna inside the area, whose shot was deflected onto the crossbar.

Milan did not take long to break the deadlock after the restart, however, when Boateng latched onto a long pass from the back, accelerated past his marker and prodded the ball home neatly past Denis.

The goal seemed to spark Sao Paulo into life, and the Brazilian outfit began to press forward in greater numbers, with Ganso winning a dangerous free kick that was wasted by Maicon with a wild attempt.

Bu ther Brazilians' momentum did not last long, as they were forced into a series of increasingly desperate attempts on goal, as the Milan back line held firm.

In the end, there was no way back for Sao Paulo, who did not show enough to merit a way back into the game, with Milan closing out the game in relative comfort.