AC Milan beat Udinese 2-1 Sunday night at the San Siro in Serie A.
Mario Balotelli scored the opener in his first match in a Diavolo shirt, but the visitors drew level through Giampiero Pinzi on the counter. The match appeared destined for a draw, but a last gasp controversial penalty from Balotelli sealed a dramatic win in the Italian international’s debut for his boyhood club.
Balotelli was less than one minute into his Rossoneri career when he beat a pair of defenders only to clip the far post with an angled drive.
Daniele Padelli made a solid reaction save to M’Baye Niang minutes later after being played through by Balotelli’s intelligent pass.
Udinese burst forward dangerously on the counter, but Luis Muriel could only muster a halfhearted attempt on goal with Pinzi begging for the ball to be played square.
On 25 minutes, the home side broke the deadlock in rather fitting fashion. Debutant Balotelli struck first-time in the box from Stephan El Shaarawy’s pull-back, placing an bouncing drive past Padelli to send the San Siro crowd into raptures.
The Italian international nearly completed a brace soon after, but Padelli made a flying save to beat away Balotelli’s rocket destined for the the top corner.
After the halftime restart EL Shaarawy fired off target from the left side of the box and was thwarted by Padelli once again on a long-range drive.
Antonio Di Natale uncharacteristically missed the target from a promising position, but the Zebrette would soon find their equaliser.
On 55 minutes Udinese surged upfield for Luis Muriel to spring the offside trap, who rolled across the box for Pinzi to draw the sides level with his left. Cristian Zapata was able to get a touch on the shot with an outstretched leg, but could only redirect Pinzi’s effort past a stranded Marco Amelia.
Balotelli fired straight at the keeper after El Shaarawy had gotten to the byline once again, whilst Niang nearly scored a wonder-goal with a curling effort from distance that whistled just past the post.
A slip by Riccardo Montolivo gifted Udinese the ball in the offensive third with Amelia off his line, but Gabriel Silva’s chipped attempt soared over the crossbar.
Bojan came on for Antonio Nocerino for the hosts, whilst Muriel made way for Roberto Pereyra for Francesco Guidolin’s side.
Balotelli blazed over in a central position from Kevin Constant’s first-time ball across the face of goal, and Niang agonizingly cracked a searing volley off the woodwork to keep the scores level.
Further substitutions were made with Niang coming off for Robinho and Alexander Merkel replacing goalscorer Pinzi.
Bojan fizzed a left-footed effort past the near post, as Max Allegri made his final change of the day with Bakaye Traore coming on for Mathieu Flamini.
Balotelli tested Padelli again with a low, curling free-kick, but the keeper was up to the task, getting down well to push the ball past the post.
Dusan Basta used his pace to get behind the Milan defense on the counter, but ultimately failed to get his shot on target as the chance went begging.
As the match appeared to be destined for a draw, El Shaarawy was taken down in the box by Thomas Heurtaux to draw a penalty. Balotelli stepped up and dispatched the spot-kick to complete his brace with a match-winning goal, coolly sending Padelli the wrong way with the last kick of the game.
Udinese vociferously protested the penalty call, crowding around the match official at the conclusion of the match and shouting in opposition to the decision, which will undoubtedly dominate discussion over the coming week.
You can follow Ian Capasso on Twitter: @capasso10
