Football: Pazzini hat-trick downs Bologna

ROME: New AC Milan recruit Giampaolo Pazzini took his stock with the Rossoneri sky high by scoring a hat-trick in a 3-1 win away to Bologna. Pazzini was part of the exchange that took AC Milan’s coveted striker Antonio Cassano the other way last week, a transfer which angered many of AC Milan’s fans. But a week after starting his new job with a shock home defeat to Sampdoria, the Italy striker took no time in showing where his loyalties now lie by scoring a first-half penalty then producing a superb second-half brace. “I think this ball will mean a lot to me,” Pazzini told Sky Sport Italia. “It was a difficult period for me recently but now I’m really happy.”

Published in The Express Tribune, September 3^rd, 2012.