AC Milan narrowed the gap on Serie A leaders Inter Milan to six points thanks to a hard-earned win over Catania.

Kaka scored the only goal of the game in the 65th minute after it had looked like Carlo Ancelotti's side were going to come away with only a point.

Despite all their chances, they struggled to beat Albano Bizzarri until a fortunate deflection finally defeated the Catania goalkeeper to keep Milan in a share of second place with Juventus, their opponents in Turin next weekend.

The home side were frustrated by tenacious opponents and their own inability to finish off the many opportunities they created.

Andriy Shevchenko looked bright early on with a difficult header from 10 yards flying just over the crossbar.

The Ukrainian striker would have had an even better opportunity to score minutes later had Pato managed to thread the ball through to him, but a Catania defender got in the way of the ball to deny Shevchenko a free shot at goal.

Paolo Maldini had the Rossoneri's next chance in the 13th minute when he nudged a Marek Jankulovksi free-kick in the direction of the far corner, but Bizzarri made a commendable one-handed save.

Bizzarri was Catania's saviour again in the 15th minute when he tipped wide a shot from Kaka.

For all their domination, Milan almost found themselves behind when Catania danger man Giuseppe Mascara shot against the inside of the post from 20 yards out.

That was the Sicilians' one and only shot of the first half, but they were not punished by a profligate home side.

Emerson headed a corner over the crossbar, Mascara deflected a dangerous cross from Shevchenko past his own post and Kaka placed his shot just wide of the post.

Jankulovski fired the last effort of the first 45 minutes straight at Bizzarri.

Catania continued to keep Milan at bay, but their resistance lasted only 20 minutes of the second half.

Bizzarri pushed Pato's wicked curling free-kick over the bar, but the save only delayed the goal by a few more seconds.

From the corner, Kaka's header took a helpful deflection off Lorenzo Stovini to beat Bizzarri.

Milan looked for a second with Mathieu Flamini's shot taking a deflection to go wide and Kaka only just missed the target with another placed attempt.

The home side risked little, although they allowed Mascara another golden opportunity 15 minutes from time.

He was permitted a free header from 10 yards which Christian Abbiati had to push wide to preserve the three points which allow Milan to reel in their city rivals.

Discuss in Message Board / Forum