MILAN: Brazilian forward Kaka boosted his World Cup hopes by scoring his 100th and 101st goals for AC Milan in a welcome 3-0 win over Atalanta at the San Siro yesterday.
Kaka is one of several Europe-based stars hoping to nail a place in Luiz Felipe Scolari’s squad and did his chances a world of good with two well-taken goals that helped move struggling Milan up three places to 10th.
Mario Balotelli started on the bench with Alessandro Matri spearheading the attack in Massimiliano Allegri’s preferred 4-3-2-1 formation, which also featured midfielder Bryan Cristante.
Cristante, making only his second senior appearance, marked the occasion by scoring Milan’s third in the 67th minute to virtually secure what was only Milan’s second win in their past 10 games and fifth of the campaign.
Before then, Kaka led the charge, scoring his 100th goal for Milan after collecting a pass deep on the left of the area to turn and beat Andrea Consigli with an angled strike at the keeper’s far post.Matri made way for Balotelli just before the hour mark and the Italy striker played a role in Kaka’s second, holding off defender Giulio Migliaccio deep on the right to cross for Robinho.
When the ball bobbled in front of the unmarked Brazilian, Kaka promptly took possession to smash the ball past Consigli from close range.
Milan had barely finished celebrating when Cristante added their third, smashing a crisp daisycutter just inside Consigli’s far post from the edge of the area.
Kaka was not alone in netting twice, Luca Toni hitting a first-half brace in a 3-1 win for Verona away to Udinese which allowed the visitors to leapfrog Inter into fourth.
Toni opened the scoring after just eight minutes when home goalkeeper Zeljko Brkic was unable to hold the towering striker’s strike. AFP
