Milan edge Cagliari in seven-goal thriller

AC Milan moved up to second in Serie A following a sensational 4-3 victory against game Cagliari at the San Siro on Sunday.

Juventus could regain second place behind leaders Inter Milan, who won 3-1 at Bologna on Saturday, if they beat Udinese in the day’s late game.

But Milan coach Leonardo’s continued gamble in playing an attacking 4-3-3 formation paid off as his increasingly exciting team edged a wonderful game full of free-flowing action.

The first half at the San Siro was exhilarating, with five goals and the lead changing hands three times.

Milan were ahead after just five minutes when Clarence Seedorf played a brilliant one-two with Marco Borriello before finding the net with an eye-of-the-needle finish between two defenders.

The lead lasted only four minutes, though, as Cagilari hit straight back when Alessandro Matri got behind Milan’s static backline to prod home Andrea Lazzari’s looped cross from seven yards.

Milan goalkeeper Dida then twice came to the hosts’ rescue, beating out a fierce Matri strike and then making a low one-handed save from Brazilian Jeda’s flick from Matri’s right-wing cross.

The Sardinians deservedly went in front on the half hour, however, as Jeda crossed from the right and Lazzari found himself free at the back post after more generous Milan defending, having the time to take a touch and then rifle home beyond Dida.

But seven minutes from the break Pato rose highest to meet Andrea Pirlo’s corner and although his header came back off the post, Borriello was on hand to nod home the equaliser from a yard out.

And two minutes later Ronaldinho’s inch-perfect pass found Pato inside the box and he hit a screamer into the top corner.

The second period was almost as thrilling. Eleven minutes in Lazzari rose highest to meet a cross but couldn’t quite direct his header on target.

Milan’s attacking triumvirate looked dangerous every time they had the ball and an impudent Ronaldinho backheel almost released Pato behind the visiting defence.

Then on the counter-attack Borriello was tripped in the box by Davide Astori and Ronaldinho lashed home the penalty.

But Cagliari coach Massimiliano Allegri threw caution to the wind and brought on Brazilian forward Nene for holding midfielder Davide Biondini and in the 69th minute Nene got behind the Milan backline from Jeda’s pass before firing home the seventh goal of the game.

Four minutes from time substitute Joaquim Larrivey almost snatched a dramatic equaliser but his free header from Lazzari’s cross lacked power.

In other games, Francesco Totti made a welcome injury return for Roma, scoring a hat-trick in the first half hour as the struggling capital-based side beat Bari 3-1.

And Sampdoria moved back into the top four with a 2-1 home win over 10-man Chievo.