AC Milan 1 - 0 Chievo
Verona 
Substitute Clarence Seedorf scored a stoppage-time
winner to lift AC Milan to victory over Chievo at the San Siro on
Sunday night.
The Dutch midfielder entered the game with 11 minutes remaining
and knocked in the only goal of the match to pull the Rossoneri to
within one point of leaders Inter Milan.
But the contest was marred by an injury to David Beckham, who
went off in the latter stages after Milan had used all three
substitutes with an apparent Achilles tendon injury.
The result is just what Milan fans needed after their
elimination from the Champions League in midweek at Manchester
United.
Hoping to capitalise on Inter's 3-1 defeat at Catania on Friday,
Milan had dodged a bullet when Chievo's Andrea Mantovani hit the
crossbar in the first half.
The hosts then had a chance to take a 57th minute lead when
Ronaldinho struck the ball inside the area past Chievo goalkeeper
Stefano Sorrentino only to see his shot smash off the post.
David Beckham returned to the starting line-up having come off
the bench in Milan's 4-0 defeat at Old Trafford.
The hosts had the first opportunity early on with Ronaldinho's
right-footed strike from the edge of the area going wide.
Shortly after, Beckham needed treatment after Chievo's Giampiero
Pinzi accidentally caught the England midfielder with his boot.
Beckham had a cut on his face but was remained in the game.
In the 18th minute, Beckham was unable to bring down
Ronaldinho's cross towards the area as Milan missed a good
opportunity to break the deadlock.
Midway through the first half, Andrea Pirlo's curled free-kick
went wide. The hosts continued to press forward and shortly after,
Marco Boriello latched onto Beckham's cross and his header was
saved by Sorrentino.
Clarence Seedorf toasts his injury time winner for AC Milan
against Chievo
Milan almost went ahead shortly after the re-start but
Ronaldinho's header from a corner-kick went wide. Ronaldinho was
unlucky not to put his team ahead soon after when his right-foot
volley beat Sorrentino but struck the far post.
On the hour mark, Ronaldinho fed Borriello inside the area and
his powerful strike was parried away by Sorrentino.
With five minutes remaining, Beckham did well to control
Ronaldinho's pass inside the area but missed the target. But
veteran Seedorf came to the rescue in stoppage time.
He got behind Ambrosini's pass and hit the ball with his right
foot into the top left corner to beat Sorrentino. While Milan
celebrated, Chievo walked off the field having failed to claim a
valuable point on the road as they look to secure their top flight
status.
Milan are now only 1 point behind Inter having played the same
amount of games.
