MILAN: Mario Balotelli scored his first goal since rejoining AC Milan to set them on the way to a 3-2 win at Udinese in Serie A on Tuesday.

Milan raced to a 3-0 halftime lead before surviving a second-half fightback from the hosts as they picked up their third win in five Serie A outings under new coach Sinisa Mihajlovic.

Balotelli, on loan from Liverpool, needed only six minutes in his first start of the season to open his account when he curled a 20 metre free kick past Ornestis Karnezis who barely moved.

Giacomo Bonaventura volleyed in from Riccardo Montolivo’s pass and Colombia defender Cristian Zapata headed the third from Bonaventura’s corner in first-half stoppage time.

Emmanuel Badu and Duvan Zapata scored for Udinese early in the second half to set up a dramatic final half hour but Milan clung on.

Milan moved provisionally level in third place with Fiorentina, three points behind leaders Inter Milan, while Udinese remain in the relegation zone on three points after a fourth defeat in five matches this season.—Agencies

Published in Dawn, September 24th, 2015

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