ROME - Arabstoday
AC Milan\'s Brazilian forward Robinho (L) scores against Brescia\'s goalkeeper Arcari .
Brazilian forward scored a vital goal to give AC Milan an eight-point lead over city rivals Inter after an even contest that
could have gone either way.
AC Milan went a step closer to winning Serie A thanks to a late goal from Robinho away at Brescia, who will have a lot of work on their hands if they are to avoid the same fate as Bari and be consigned to Serie B.
Massimiliano Allegri\'s are now eight points clear of title rivals Inter with games against Bologna, Roma, Cagliari and Udinese remaining.
The visitors signalled their intentions early in the match after Mathieu Flamini’s fierce right-footed shot hit the side netting.
Brescia were unable to cope with AC Milan\'s passing. Flamini, Clarence Seedorf and Antonio Cassano were linking up in the final third at will, and it seemed only a matter of time before they took the lead.
Robinho hit a volley over the bar when he should have done better, before Seedorf did almost the same thing – his first-time shot going narrowly over, while Cassano put his effort wide when he was clean through and should have given his side lead.
The league leaders should have had the game sewn up before Brescia had a chance. The home side, after some comical defending began to look more solid at the back and Eder had arguably one of the best chances of the half, forcing a smart save from Christian Abbiati at his near post.
AC Milan began to create chances again in the closing part of the first half. Robinho blasted a shot from a well worked corner into Michele Arcari’s hands, Cassano missed a free header from within the six-yard box, but Milan were unable to make their possession and chances count.
The visitors continued with their agenda of missing chances in the second half. After good work from Seedorf, Cassano had another free header inside the Brescia area, but sent it wide when he should have buried it.
Brescia almost made AC Milan pay again just after the hour mark as Andrea Caracciolo glanced a header which produced a great save from Abbiati moments before Robinho came close to breaking the deadlock with a thirty yard shot which Arcari did excellently to parry behind.
Brescia continued to threaten Abbiati’s clean sheet. They came the closest to breaking the deadlock ten minutes from time as Alessandro Diamanti’s superb left-footed free kick struck the bar.
Milan’s breakthrough finally came after 82 minutes, and Brescia’s defence were suspect again as Seedorf played a long ball through to Cassano, who passed to Robinho and the Brazilian slotted home.
Brescia weren’t giving up. Abbiati made a superb save to deny Diamanti once more as the former West Ham player cut inside to curl the ball right footed across the league leaders’ body, but they couldn’t take advantage of the four minutes of stoppage time.
With this result, AC Milan edge ever closer to winning the league that they have led all season, while Brescia must win their six-pointer next week against Sampdoria if they are to stand any chance of staying up.