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Serie A

AC Milan continued their pursuit of Serie A leaders Inter by edging out Cagliari in a seven-goal thriller at the San Siro.

Clarence Seedorf gave the hosts the lead in the fifth minute, but Alessandro Matri replied within five minutes and Andrea Lazzari gave the Sardinians a deserved lead after half an hour.

But two goals in as many minutes earned Milan the half-time lead with Marco Borriello and Alexandre Pato on target.

A penalty by Ronaldinho gave the Rossoneri a two-goal advantage in the 62nd minute, but they were made to sweat for their third straight league win when Nene reduced the arrears in the 69th minute.

Milan made a bright start with Seedorf putting them ahead after exchanging passes with Borriello and then beating Federico Marchetti in the Cagliari goal.

But any thoughts that it would be an easy afternoon were soon quashed as Cagliari showed why they had won their last four matches.

They had penalty claims turned down in the seventh minute when Matri went down under the challenge of Dida, but did not have to wait much longer to level, Matri losing Kakha Kaladze to equalise in the ninth minute.

Cagliari had a 20-minute spell of pure dominance with chance after chance going begging.

Massimiliano Allegri's side could have been three goals to the good by the time Lazzari finally put them ahead after half an hour.

Jeda just missed the target in the 14th minute with Dida making two saves, one better than the other, to deny Matri.

But he could do nothing about Lazzari's goal as the Cagliari forward picked perhaps the only spot Dida could not cover for an excellent individual goal.

It looked more likely that Cagliari would score a third when Milan equalised in the 38th minute.

Marchetti managed to block Pato's header but Borriello was well placed to nod in the rebound.

And two minutes later it was Pato's turn to put his name on the scoresheet with a shot into the top corner after being found by Ronaldinho.

Cagliari did not let their heads drop, however, and continued to play the better football until Davide Astori fouled Borriello inside the area and Ronaldinho converted from the spot to double Milan's lead in the 62nd minute.

Even then, Cagliari continued to impress and they got back into the game in the 69th minute when Nene was put through by Jeda and he placed his shot past Dida to set up a grandstand finish.

But despite their efforts, the Rossoblu could not find an equaliser they had more than deserved and Milan held on for their third straight win.