Late Gilardino goal earns AC Milan a draw

Penalized Fiorentina and AC Milan failed to improve their lowly standings on Saturday as Alberto Gilardino and Adrian Mutu scored a brace for each side in a pulsating 2-2 draw at Florence's Artemio Franchi stadium

Gilardino scored an 89th-minute equalizer to earn AC Milan a share of the spoils.

The Italy forward, who also scored the game's opening goal in the fourth minute, headed in a corner with the final action of the match.

Adrian Mutu scored twice for Fiorentina, with a 20th-minute penalty and shot from the edge of the area in the 76th.

Also on Saturday, 10-man Udinese beat visiting Cagliari 3-1 in the only other Serie A match.

Milan was missing seven players through injury -- including goalkeeper Dida and defenders Alessandro Nesta and Paolo Maldini -- but midfielder Gennaro Gattuso started for the first time since hurting his knee last month.

Andrea Pirlo (suspension), Kaka (foot injury) and Kakha Kaladze (knee injury) also returned after missing last Sunday's scoreless draw with Torino.

Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti persisted with Gilardino in attack, despite the striker's apparent lack of confidence in recent months. Gilardino, making his 14th league appearance of the season, repaid Ancelotti's trust early on by latching onto Cristian Brocchi's through-ball for his first goal.

Mutu equalized for the hosts from the penalty spot after defender Kaladze handled the ball in the area.

The Romania forward deservedly put Fiorentina ahead, after Milan goalkeeper Zeljko Kalac had stopped three earlier attempts.

Gilardino snatched Milan's seventh draw of the season with his second goal.

"It was important to recover a game that started well," Gilardino said. "Above all, the equalizer was very important for morale. There's still a lot to improve on. We must take it game by game ... but Milan is still alive and has so much desire to show it."

Fiorentina coach Cesare Prandelli was disappointed with the draw.

"There's a bitter taste in the mouth," Prandelli said. "It was a good performance, we were leading with a minute to go ... But I'd like to compliment Gilardino because he deserves it. Great champions can come across moments of difficulty but he has always given his all to the team."

At Stadio Friuli, Giampiero Pinzi, Vincenzo Iaquinta and Christian Obodo scored in Udinese's first win in four games.

Iaquinta set up Pinzi from close range in the 17th minute and made it 2-0 in the 27th.

Obodo's goal in the 52nd was the best of the three. Winger Antonio Di Natale spotted the Nigeria midfielder's run into the box and passed the ball behind Cagliari's defense.

Cagliari worked hard but rarely threatened, despite the expulsion of Udinese's Sulley Muntari seconds before halftime for a bad tackle on midfielder Andrea Capone.

Striker Andrea Cocco scored a consolation goal for the visitors in the 82nd minute, stabbing the ball in off a corner.