Italy round-up: Milan edge win

A 78th-minute headed goal from Spaniard José Mari gave Milan AC a 1-0 victory at US Lecce on Saturday as Serie A returned to action after the Christmas break.

Three missing
Milan, without the injured trio of Paolo Maldini, Rui Costa and Filippo Inzaghi, dominated possession in the first half but were unable to prise open a Lecce defence well marshalled by veteran Romanian Gheorghe Popescu.

Header flashed wide
It was Lecce who came closest to an opening goal when defender Gianluca Colonnello saw a header flash just wide and after the break their Slovenian midfield player Sebastjan Cimerotic tested Milan goalkeeper Christian Abbiati with a low drive.

Decisive goal
But Milan always looked the more composed and they grabbed the decisive goal 12 minutes from the end when Andrea Pirlo floated in a free-kick from wide on the left and José Mari glanced a header into the bottom corner.

Great chance to equalise
Lecce had a great chance to equalise in injury time when Max Tonetto broke through the centre of the Milan defence but could only fire his shot straight at Abbiati, and then Milan substitute Marco Simone struck the post in the final seconds. The result moves Milan up into third place with 30 points, four behind leaders Internazionale FC who play S.S. Lazio on Sunday.