Just wide from Poli! The substitute flicks a cross towards goal in rather unorthodox fashion, but it flashes across the face and beyond the far upright! So nearly 3-0!
90' +2
Inzaghi's substitutions have helped to solidify the Milan midfield, with the hosts now prepared to wait and break. Pazzini is found at the back post after a great run and shot from El Shaarawy, but the experienced striker skews a close-range effort wide of the near post!
90'
There are three minutes of stoppage time. Armero surrenders possession to Geijo needlessly, but Mexes bails his teammate out.
89'
R. Montolivo enters the game and replaces M. van Ginkel.
Montolivo is introduced for the home side and is given a great reception. Udinese have half a chance, with Geijo blasting narrowly wide of the far post with an ambitious half volley.
87'
Only a few minutes remain of this game remains, with Udinese sitting deep and opting for a policy of damage limitation. El Shaarawy holds the ball up well at the edge of the box, but his eventual pass out to Bonera is too heavy.
85'
Geijo enters the game and replaces Guilherme.
A couple more substitutions slow down the tempo of the game, with there something of an inevitability that Milan have secured the three points here. The game is really becoming stretched due to some tired legs.
83'
Milan have a chance to load the box for a free kick delivery, but Karnezis claims ahead of a host of players. Montolivo is warming up on the sidelines, as he looks to continue his comeback from long-term injury.
82'
A. Poli enters the game and replaces K. Honda.
81'
Less then ten minutes are left in this contest, with Milan looking home and dry already. Inzaghi makes another change, with Honda replaced by Poli to help bolster the Rossoneri midfield.
80'
G. Pazzini enters the game and replaces J. Ménez.
Minute
Description
79'
Pazzini is brought into the fray in place of Menez, with Inzaghi giving the Frenchman the chance to soak up applause from the San Siro faithful. His two goals have been the only bright sparks in an otherwise drab second half.
77'
Udinese have got no option but to push forward now, with only a quarter of an hour left on the clock to try and earn a share of the spoils. Fernandes is introduced to give some additional legs in midfield, with Stramaccioni's men beginning to press more readily.
76'
Bruno Fernandes enters the game and replaces P. Kone.
75'
J. Ménez has scored a goal for AC Milan! Assist by G. Bonaventura.
GOOOOOOOOOOOOAL! GREAT GOAL FROM MENEZ! The Frenchman cuts inside from the left-hand side, dancing past two challenges, before powering a low finish straight through Karnezis! That should be the points wrapped up for the hosts!
73'
Udinese signal some intent now that parity is restored in terms of numbers, with Piris almost found in acres of space overlapping down the left-hand side. Honda works back brilliantly to rob the full-back of the opportunity.
71'
M. Essien gets a second yellow card and is sent off.
RED CARD! Essien jostles with Allan, before the latter goes down claiming an arm to the face. The referee is quick to race over and brandish the Ghanaian's second yellow of the afternoon.
70'
Given that Milan were dominating possession before Udinese went down to ten men, the Rossoneri are even more comfortable now. The hosts are knocking the ball around with total freedom.
68'
Just over 20 minutes remain, with Milan now having this game under their control. With the numerical advantage and a lead in hand, Inzaghi will be rather optimistic as to how his team will fare for the remainder. El Shaarawy curls an effort towards the back post, but it whistles wide.
67'
G. Pasquale enters the game and replaces A. Di Natale.
66'
Di Natale is sacrificed for the away side, with Pasquale coming into the back four in his place. Despite needing to search for an equaliser, Stramacionni has had to be pragmatic with his first substitution.
65'
Penalty goal scored by J. Ménez for AC Milan!
GOOOOOOOAL! MENEZ CONVERTS THE PENALTY! The Frenchman sends the goalkeeper the wrong way, giving Milan a lead at last! It's a cool finish, especially given the amount of time he had to wait.
64'
Danilo gets yellow.
Danilo earns himself a yellow card, as Udinese continue to argue with the referee. Stramacionni is absolutely livid on the sidelines.
62'
M. Domizzi goes off after a red card!
RED CARD! PENALTY! Milan break down the left-hand side, after good work in the centre of the park from Essien. With Honda scrambling towards the cross at the back post, Domizzi pushes the Japan international to the ground and gives away a spot kick - earning himself an early shower as a result.
61'
Agyemang-Badu picks up a yellow card for a poor challenge on the edge of the box, cynically clipping Armero. Milan try their luck from the resulting free kick, which is 25 yards from goal, but Bonaventura dips his effort over the target.
60'
E. Agyemang-Badu gets yellow.
59'
Essien goes down heavily under a challenge from Kone, with the Greek midfielder appearing to catch his man with a flailing arm. The Udinese man protests his innocence, with the former Ghana international slowly getting back to his feet.
57'
Menez tries to open up an angle on the edge of the penalty area, before attempting to curl a right-footed effort into the top corner. A ruck of black and white shirts charge down the Frenchman's shot, however.
55'
Agyemang-Badu goes down belatedly after being possibly clipped by Armero, claiming a penalty for Udinese. The referee waves away the Ghanaian's claims, however. Moments later, a good cross is whipped in towards the back post, but Piris can't make contact.
54'
M. Essien gets yellow.
Karnezis gets down to his right-hand side to push away a long-range effort from Essien, with one of the goalkeepers finally called into action! Moments later, the former Chelsea man picks up a yellow card for a scrappy tackle.
52'
Di Natale almost manages to pick up a loose ball in the Milan penalty area, but Mexes covers across to clear. Chances have been few and far between since the interval, with the opening goal continuing to be elusive.
50'
Inzaghi is constantly on the edge of his penalty area, barking out instructions and urging the Rossoneri forward. Possession in the second half is almost exclusively Milan's, there is no intensity at all from Udinese.
48'
Milan start the second half on the front foot, with El Shaarawy picked out at the back post. The Italy international tries to bring it down at the byline, but can't get a boot to it. Di Natale continues to trudge around up top, with the veteran striker being neglected somewhat.
46'
We are underway in the second half at the San Siro! The Rossoneri appear to have Udinese in a stranglehold, but Di Natale only needs half an invitation to net an undeserved goal for his side. The sooner the hosts can find the elusive opener, the better.
45'
There is only one minute of stoppage time. Thereaux tries his luck from 25 yards out, but balloons an awful attempt high and wide of the target!
43'
Huge chance for Honda! Menez drives wide and gets to the right byline, before cutting a cross to the back post brilliantly. The Japan international is present to apply the finishing touch, but can't quite stretch enough to do so!
41'
We're into the dying stages of the first half, with chances becoming few and far between. Meaningless possession is the current theme of the game, with Milan's midfield seeing plenty of the ball but doing absolutely nothing with it.
39'
Menez fires just wide! The Frenchman lashes a loose ball towards the far post, but the ball fizzes beyond the outstretched hand of Karnezis and centimetres beyond the upright.
37'
El Shaarawy cuts inside and delivers from the left, but Karnezis is able to claim with Danilo shielding Honda from the ball. The away side are finally finding a foothold in the game, but Lopez remains completely untested.
35'
Narrowly over ten minutes of normal time remain in the first half for Milan to force the issue, with the intensity slowly dwindling from the home side. Udinese are starting to see slightly more of the ball, but their strike force is receiving nothing in the way of service.
33'
El Shaarawy is left in a heap on the edge of the box, but the referee isn't interested. Bonaventura delivers a cross from out wide, which inadvertently turns into a cross-cum-shot. Karnezis has to palm away from the inside of the far post, making a good stop!
31'
Kone tries an acrobatic half volley from 12 yards out, after a good pass from Di Natale, but the Greece international can't keep his effort down, sending it hurtling into the stand behind Lopez's goal. Finally, the away side offer some kind of threat.
29'
Kone is penalised for shoving Essien to the floor, cutting another Udinese advance out of their own half short. Despite solid showings from Danilo and Heurteaux so far, Milan will be very disappointed if they can't turn this stint of pressure into an opening goal.
27'
Agyemang-Badu tries to break, but Rami uses his strength brilliantly to bully the Ghanaian midfielder off the ball. Milan just look far more motivated for this game, with Stramaccioni's men yet to turn up to the races. Plenty of time remains for Udinese to turn the tide, though.
25'
Armero now delivers from the left flank, but Bonaventura is beaten to the header. Milan are besieging the penalty area, with Udinese seemingly quite happy to sit extremely deep and invite pressure on. Di Natale and Thereaux have barely touched the ball.
23'
El Shaarawy can't quite make contact! Bonera whips in a cross from deep on the right-hand side, but the Italy international fails to turn the ball home! He gets across his marker well, but can't apply the finish to give Milan a justified lead.
22'
Honda whips in another corner delivery, but Udinese clear with ease. Moments later, Bonaventura lets fly from 25 yards out, but Karnezis is confident enough to let the ball zip wide of the near upright.
20'
El Shaarawy cuts in from the left-hand side, before trying his luck with a curling right-footed effort which is deflected beyond the far post. Udinese defend the corner well, heading behind for a second set piece, before Mexes heads wide.
19'
Inzaghi isn't happy, with Milan somehow not being ahead in this contest. The Rossoneri have imposed all of the pressure and had all of the chances, but the referee's decision has stopped the hosts from holding a deserved lead.
17'
Udinese concede from the set piece, with Karnezis unable to prevent a downward header from creeping over his line. The Greek goalkeeper goes down injured as a result, but Rami will be happy to celebrate his goal regardless. The referee and his linesman don't see it, however!
16'
Van Ginkel earns his side a corner, after dancing past two players and attempting to work his way to the byline. The is a big opportunity for the home side to make this pressure count.
14'
Di Natale is the most advanced Udinese player, and the experienced striker is stationed ten yards within his own half. Inzaghi can be pleased with how his side have come out of the blocks, with the majority of possession being enjoyed by the hosts.
12'
El Shaarawy tries to turn an improvised finish towards goal, but the Italy international is stood up well by Danilo. All of the early pressure is coming from Milan, with Inzaghi prowling his technical area and urging the Rossoneri forward.
10'
Bonaventura can't make contact! A cross is flashed across the face of goal, but nobody from the home side can slide in to turn it home. Guilherme eventually hacks clear after Honda recycles possession and flights in another delivery.
9'
Menez is denied! The Milan striker lets fly from inside the penalty area, but Danilo slides in well to deny his man. Moments later, a cross is whipped into the near post, but Karnezis is able to collect.
8'
Udinese have half a chance, after a good diagonal ball from the left picks out two shirts spare on the right flank, but Piris fails to control the ball. The away side are happy to sit back within their own half and break opportunistically.
6'
Menez goes down asking for a penalty, but the referee isn't interested! Following a good touch from Honda, the Frenchman scampers into the box, before Heurteaux appears to make innocuous contact with the Milan forward.
4'
El Shaarawy drives down the left flank this time, but Karnezis is able to collect the Italian's cross. Milan are doing all of the early probing, with Udinese limited to playing within their own half.
2'
Good delivery from Menez! The Frenchman picks up a loose ball on the right-hand side, before holding off the challenge of Heurteaux and whipping in a dangerous cross. Danilo is forced to hack clear, with the former PSG player left winded on the turf.
1'
We are underway in the first half at the San Siro! Milan are in their alternative yellow and green kit, with Udinese in their black and white stripes.
Hello and welcome to live coverage of Milan versus Udinese at the San Siro, with both teams currently battling through a rough patch of form. The hosts, however, have only been defeated once in their last five matches, leaving Stramaccioni's men to face a rather difficult task this afternoon. Sharing the same points total in the Serie A table, this match should be competitive if nothing else.
I'm Simon Harrison and I will be keeping you up to date with all of the action, as Inzaghi opts to rotate his side somewhat, bringing a couple of faces out of the selection cold. Udinese are winless in four matches, meaning that the away side are rather desperate for points to prevent pressure building upon both the players themselves and their coach.
TEAM NEWS: Armero finally gets a start at left-back for the Rossoneri, with Bonera coming back into the side at right-back following his suspension. Van Ginkel is also included in midfield for the hosts, with Menez preferred as the central striking option instead of Torres. Honda and El Shaarawy provide the width, with Essien holding due to the absences of Muntari and De Jong.
TEAM NEWS: Di Natale and Thereau start in attack for the visitors, with Kone sat in behind the forward two. Agyemang-Badu, Allan and Guilherme form the base of the rest of the midfield, with Pinzi dropping out as unavailable. The back four is unchanged from the side who drew 1-1 with Chievo last time out, with Karnezis continuing in goal.
Milan starting line-up (4-2-3-1): Lopez; Bonera, Rami, Mexes, Armero; Essien, Van Ginkel; Honda, Bonaventura, El Shaarawy; Menez.
Udinese substitutes: Brkic, Wague, Fernandes, A. Zapata, Belmonte, Bubnjic, Hallberg, Scuffet, Pasquale, Pinzi, Geijo, Lucas Evangelista.
HALF TIME! A tame strike from Honda is smothered well by Karnezis to signal the end of the first half. Milan have had the majority of the pressure and chances, with Karnezis making a number of solid stops. The Rossoneri haven't been able to make their pressure tell, however.
FULL TIME! Milan wrap up a solid 2-0 victory over Udinese, with two goals from Menez enough for the home side. Two red cards and a penalty played a role in a fairly entertaining game, but the Rossoneri get a much-needed three points. That's all we have time for, I've been Simon Harrison and I hope to see you again next time.
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