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‘Super sub’ Boateng keys Milan victory

Comment: 0 October 24th, 2011 by: admin

KEVIN Prince-Boateng assumed the “super-sub’’ tag on Sunday as defending titlists AC Milan rose from the grace to nail a pulsating come-from-behind 4-3 victory over hosts Lecce in the Serie A on Sunday.

Boateng came on as a halftime substitute and rescued Milan from the jaws of defeat by producing a hat-trick within 18 minutes of coming on that enabled them to astonishingly charge back from 0-3 down to snatch the three points.

Mario Yepes climaxed the incredible recovery by Milan by heading home the go-ahead goal in the 82^nd minute. Boateng’s goals came in the 49^th, 54^th and 63^rd minutes.

For a while there, Lecce appeared to be cruising to the win as Guillermo Giacomazzi, Carlos Grossmuller and Massimo Oddo combined to put the hosts to a commanding 3-0 advantage that looked invincible unti l the Milan homestretch rush came in.

In another tussle, AS Roma edged Palermo as 19-year-old Argentine Erik Lamela converted just seven minutes into his Serie A debut.

A Thiago Motta header gifted Inter Milan a 1-0 triumph over Chievo, only their second in seven matches this season.

Udinese are currently atop the table with 15 points after an unbeaten run the past seven games, while Lazio are second, just a point adrift. Lazio prevailed at Bologna 2-0 courtesy of an own goal from Robert Acquafresca and a Senad Lulic brace.

Unbeaten Juventus fell to third at 13 points after fighting Genoa to a 2-2 tie, while Cagliari are fourth at 12 after a goalless standoff at home to Napoli. Napoli, Roma and Milan are tied for the next spot at 11.

Boateng said he was pleased because Milan, 13^th prior to the fixture, deserve where they are placed at the moment.

He said his superb performance was not an answer to his detractors “because I look to the future and not the past.’’

Milan boss Massimiliano Allegri hailed their success, saying the win was very important. “We got ourselves into a bit of a mess and we did little in the first half, we were too slow, although I had faith we could fight back.’’

He also praised his three-goal hero by saying: “I’m happy for Boateng.’’

 

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