Football: Pato hands Milan victory

Pato produces two clinical finishes and a dubious fall to turn the most eagerly-anticipated Milan derby.

MILAN: Pato scored a brace and threw himself to the ground to get Cristian Chivu sent off as AC Milan took charge of the Serie A title race by beating Inter Milan 3-0 at the San Siro.

It was Pato who was the show’s central figure as he produced two clinical finishes and a dubious fall to turn the most eagerly-anticipated Milan derby in years the way of the rossoneri. Substitute Antonio Cassano added a late penalty after he tumbled under a Javier Zanetti challenge.

The result leaves Milan five points clear of the champions at the top of Serie A.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 4^th,  2011.