Match report: Milan 1 - Chievo Verona 0

Clarence Seedorf (above- being chased by his teammates after scoring the game winning goal in stoppage time) helped Milan pull within one point of Serie A leaders Inter.

On the unfortunate side, David Beckham (below) was kicked in the face and then later injured his achilles tendon. He joins the many injured Milan players-- Nesta, Pato, Bonera, etc.

Most importantly, however, Milan are now only one point behind Inter.

Great moments in World Cup history #2

1998 Argentina versus England

This game had everything-- Michael Owen's most famous goal, Argentina's clever goal off the free kick, Beckham's red card. Everybody knew about it and everybody watched it, even my wife at work, I think.

Match report: Milan 4 - Siena 0

Above: Borriello scores

• Goals scored: Ronaldinho (penalty) 12', Borriello 28', Ronaldinho 72', Ronaldinho 89'
• What happened: Milan are in second place in Serie A; Siena are in last. Siena lost their goalkeeper to a red card in the first ten minutes. I spent most of the game worrying that Milan players would get hurt.
• Milan players who scored a hat trick today: Ronaldinho
• Milan players whose goals are always spectacular-looking: Borriello-- today he took a pass from Pirlo and volleyed it in even though he was turned away from goal.
• Milan players who appeared to be possibly injured today: Nesta, Pirlo, Gattuso, Flamini and Antonini
• Milan players who were taken off either because they actually were injured or as a precaution: Nesta and Flamini
• Order of excellence of Milan's regular starting defenders this year: Thiago Silva, Nesta, Antonini, Abate
• How David Beckham has done so far: Nothing special
• Most interesting rumor reported by the announcer: Last week the Milan players were watching Inter play Siena on television. Inter was losing late but came back to win in injury time. When the game was over, one of the Milan players was so angry that they destroyed the television set.
• Who Milan play next: Inter
• What this match teaches us: Next Sunday's match against Inter is very, very important.

Above: Milan coach Leonardo stands on the sidelines

Below: David Beckham looks at the ball

Highlights are below:

Match report: Milan 5 - Genoa 2

• Goals scored: Sculli 25', Ronaldinho (penalty) 32', Thiago Silva 38', Borriello 48', Borriello 60', Huntelaar (penalty) 74', Suazo 79'
• What happened: Genoa scored first and last but still lost badly. Milan had three penalties-- Ronaldinho missed the first one, made the second, and Huntelaar made the last.
• Milan players who made their first appearances in a long time: Gattuso, Jankulovski, Beckham
• Milan players who were hit in the face: Nesta, Antonini, Ronaldinho
• Number of Milan penalties that were not deserved: Zero
• Why Huntelaar took the last penalty: Beckham and Ronaldinho were insisting that each other take it-- Ambrosini stepped in and gave the ball to Huntelaar. (At least that's how it looked to me). It is widely rumored that Huntelaar will be leaving Milan this month.
• Player of the game: Ambrosini-- he repeatedly charged the defenders in the box with the ball. He won the first two of Milan's penalty kicks.
• Nicest goal: Borriello's second-- a twisting bicycle kick that just snuck in at the post. (Replays showed that he was barely offside; however, the linesman missed the call.)
• My favorite goal: Thiago Silva's-- chaos in the box followed by a goal by a defender
• Who Milan play next: Juventus
• Milan players the announcer said were unable to play due to injury: Pato and Seedorf
• What this match teaches us: Take the ball and head toward the goal.

Above: Huntelaar takes his penalty kick.

Click here for highlights.

Some matches are not shown on television. There is probably a good reason for that.

Atalanta 1- Milan 1

Prior to this match, Atalanta was in 19th place in the Serie A table. (Milan was not much better at 12th). Atalanta scored in the first half and Milan spent the entire game trying to catch up. Ronaldinho finally scored late to break a long goalless drought for himself and the team. (See photo above). He may or may not have saved Leonardo his job.

In other news:

• David Beckham is said to be close to reaching a deal to return to Milan once the MLS season is over.
• Ronaldinho has been fined for staying out too late at night several days before Milan's disastrous Champions League match against FC Zurich.

David Beckham's Sharpie Commercial

Kind of funny actually...