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Milan Champions League hopes suffer

AC Milan's Champions League qualification hopes suffered a major blow as they were beaten 2-1 at Atalanta on Wednesday.

The European champions dropped to 10th place in the league after a match replayed behind closed doors after the original clash in early November was abandoned after crowd trouble.

The dropped points mean Milan remain 10 points off the crucial fourth place spot.

They have also won just six of their 17 league matches this season.

Gennaro Gattuso opened the scoring on 16 minutes with a lucky strike when the ball dropped to him on the edge of the area after Atalanta half cleared a corner.

He did little more than scoop the ball back into the area but it took a wicked deflection off an Atalanta head and sailed past Ferdinando Coppola in the home side's goal.

Milan were dominant and should have doubled their lead just after the half hour mark through star Brazilian teenager Pato.

Andrea Pirlo hoisted a long ball forward but Atalanta center-back Morris Carrozzieri made a hash of his attempt at a clearance, presenting Pato with a clean run on goal.

Pato shot first time and sent Coppola the wrong way but curled his effort just past the upright.

The hosts then hit the European champions with a shock equalizer with virtually their first forward foray of the match.

Brazilian Ferreria Pinto crossed from the right and Tiberio Guarante flicked the ball on to striker Antonio Langella at the back post who fired home past goalkeeper Zeljko Kalac.

Atalanta then took the lead midway through the second half after a defensive gaff by Milan center back Kakha Kaladze.

The Georgian misread the flight of a long ball forward allowing Simone Inzaghi a clear sight of goal.

Inzaghi drew Kalac and then laid the ball off for Argentine Tissone to dink into the empty net.
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