Milan confound Juventus' woes
- Source: Global Times
- [23:06 January 11 2010]
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Milan playmaker Ronaldinho celebrates after scoring against Juventus during their Italian Serie A match at Turin's Olympic Stadium Monday. Photo: AFP
Two goals from Ronaldinho helped AC Milan to a 3-0 win at toothless Juventus Monday that continued to pile the pressure on Juve's rookie coach Ciro Ferrara.
Alessandro Nesta netted in the first half and Ronaldinho twice after the break to push Leonardo's side eight points behind leaders Inter Milan, who beat Siena 4-3 Sunday.
Second-placed Milan, who have a game in hand and meet Inter January 24, condemned Juve to their fourth defeat in five matches in all competitions and reports linking the Turin club with Russia coach Guus Hiddink have already re-emerged.
The visitors were far from spectacular but third-placed Juve's confidence is so low that an average display was enough to win handsomely.
Juve midfielder Felipe Melo, much derided for his poor form since a July move from Fiorentina, failed to clear a corner on the half hour and Nesta could not miss at the far post.
Milan doubled their lead on 72 minutes when Ronaldinho's header from a corner was deflected in by Paolo De Ceglie and the Brazilian added the third from David Beckham's cross late on.
The hosts, with a raft of injuries, had their best half-chance when Dida denied defender Giorgio Chiellini.
"Inter won Monday so we had to win this game to stay in the race," Milan's Pirlo, back to his best after the whole team struggled in Leonardo's first months in charge, said after the match.
