By DPA
Milan : AC Milan clinched their first win on home turf in football’s Serie A this season, crushing visiting Napoli 5-2 with a brace from returning Brazilian star Ronaldo.
All three Brazilians in the Devils’ attack package were on target, with Golden Ball winner Kaka and 18-year-old debutant Alexandre Pato beefing up the score in the second half here late Sunday.
As the Italian Serie A resumed after a three-week break, Milan’s standing remains low for a side that last month won the Club World Cup.
The red-blacks lie at mid-table on 21 points, two behind Napoli and 25 adrift leaders Inter Milan, a position they can mildly improve through the three games they have in hand.
Ronaldo celebrated his return after a long absence, twice putting Milan ahead in the pulsating game at the brimming Giuseppe Meazza.
A feeble shot from the phenomenon in the 10th minute posed no threat to goalkeeper Gennaro Iezzo, who two minutes later watched a Kaka drive fly high above the bar.
In the 15th minute, though, Ronaldo controlled a defence-splitting assist from Andrea Pirlo and flicked home the ball despite Iezzo’s deflection and a clearing attempt from Andrea Cupi.
Napoli came close after just one minute as Roberto Sosa fumbled a mouth watering chance favoured by a defensive blunder. The Argentinian did not fail in the 27th minute, levelling from close range off a perfect feed by Ezequiel Lavezzi.
Pato, meanwhile, was rather active up front, firing a central drive in the 20th minute and twice missing inside the area in the 31st minute before veteran Clarence Seedorf slammed home for 2-1.
The young Brazilian tried again in the 34th minute, forcing Iezzo’s prodigious save by his right post, but the Devils’ lead was again short-lived as Maurizio Domizzi on 38 minutes levelled from the spot kick following Kaladze’s flooring of Lavezzi.
One minute into the second half, a precise cross from Seedorf allowed Ronaldo to nod past Iezzo, who was stunned again in the 68th minute by a nasty low shot from Kaka.
Pato’s goal came in the 74th minute with a classy flick past the onrushing Iezzo, who later managed a last save on a fierce effort from the young talent.
“The whole team was very good, and I dedicate the goal to my family and my girlfriend, … but the true phenomenon remains Ronaldo,” Pato said.
Earlier in the day, Inter beat Siena 3-2 to rise to 46 points from 18 games and retain a seven-point lead on Roma, who beat Atalanta 2-1.