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Milan have put their crisis behind them with a second consecutive 3-0 victory and finally have their strikers firing on all cylinders.
The Rossoneri have always had a good record at the Stadio Friuli, winning 10, drawing 16 and losing just five in Serie A, so they hoped to maintain the upturn in fortunes represented by the 3-0 win over Catania midweek and Alberto Gilardino's three goals in two games. Udinese were also confident after two straight victories. Daniele Bonera and Raffaele De Martino were suspended.
Roman Eremenko was booked for a hideously late tackle on Kaka, while Zeljko Kalac rather shakily tipped an Antonio Di Natale cross-shot out for a corner.
The Australian goalkeeper was more secure when beating away Di Natale's missile, while Vincenzo Iaquinta slipped and failed to tap in Di Natale's assist from six yards.
There was a fine team move with Kaka and Andrea Pirlo combining, but just as he prepared to shoot from eight yards, Giampiero Pinzi's tackle was considered worthy of a penalty. Pinzi was only booked, but Kaka got back up to roll the precise penalty into the bottom corner.
Gilardino's drought is well and truly over, as he made it 2-0 soon after. The ex-Parma striker proved his poacher's instinct, acrobatically flicking in Marek Jankulovski's deflected cross with the outside of his foot.
Marcos Cafu struck the side-netting on the counter-attack and Gilardino went close.
Milan were under increasing pressure in the second half, as Kalac beat away chances by Pinzi, Di Natale, Chris Obodo's follow-up header and Paulo Barreto.
Kakha Kaladze picked up an injury, so Pirlo had to adapt to an unusual central defensive role. Nonetheless, Milan made it 3-0 with Ricardo Oliveira's first Serie A goal since Week 1, a precise angled drive across the face of goal into the far corner.
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