The China Mail - Milan fall at Udinese despite Ibrahimovic's goal record

Veteran striker Ibrahimovic was in Milan's starting line-up for the first time since January last year and smashed home a penalty at the second attempt in first-half stoppage time to make the score 1-1 following Roberto Pereyra's ninth-minute opener.

He missed his first spot-kick but was given a second chance when Beto was penalised for encroachment, and thumped his shot down the middle of the goal.

At 41 years and 166 days old Ibrahimovic overtook former AC Milan defender Alessandro Costacurta -- who also netted against Udinese in 2007 aged 41 -- as the oldest scorer in Italy's top flight.

He had previously made three substitute appearances this season after being sidelined since May last year, following reconstructive surgery on the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.

Udinese coach Andrea Sottil was sent off for his protests at the decision to award the penalty for a Jaka Bijol handball and then allow Ibrahimovic to retake following Marco Silvestri's brilliant save.

But Sottil's side were ahead at the break as Beto made up for his earlier error by finishing off Isaac Success' low cross on the stroke of half-time.

And Kingsley Ehizibue made sure of Udinese's second win in as many league matches, just their third since early October, when kept onside by Pierre Kalulu as he stole in at the back post to poke in Destiny Udogie's mishit shot.

Stefano Pioli's team would have moved second with a win at the Dacia Arena but stay fourth, two points behind local rivals Inter Milan in the race for the Champions League.

Milan will drop out of the top four if Roma win the Rome derby with Lazio on Sunday evening while Inter face fierce rivals Juventus hoping to steal a march on their rivals for Europe's top club competition.

Udinese's first home win since mid-September moves them up to eighth, level on 38 points with Juve and a point ahead of Bologna who drew 2-2 at Salernitana earlier on Saturday.

Monza drew 1-1 with struggling Cremonese in the day's first match.

Y.Parker--ThChM