Scorers: Inzaghi 13, 37, 60 (M), Kaka pen 68 (M), Franceschini 80 (T), Ambrosini 90 (M)Pippo Inzaghi bagged a hat-trick as Milan crushed Torino 5-1 and caught Juventus in second place.
The Rossoneri could catch Juventus in second place with a victory, even though their performances hadn't been all that impressive lately. Toro meanwhile felt the flames of Serie B licking at their feet, although they had a boost from last week's dramatic late win over Catania, Giancarlo Camolese's first victory on the bench.
Milan's defence was decimated as Marek Jankulovski's ban added to injury woes for Alessandro Nesta, Kakha Kaladze, Daniele Bonera, Luca Antonini, Christian Abbiati, Gennaro Gattuso and Marco Borriello, so Mathieu Flamini improvised as a full-back. Toro weren't in better shape, missing Eugenio Corini, Elvis Abbruscato, Andrea Gasbarroni, Marco Pisano, Nicola Ventola and Paolo Zanetti.
Pippo Inzaghi got the ball in the back of the net after nine minutes by nodding David Beckham's free kick, but he was offside.
It was only a warning, as soon after Inzaghi got his header after all. A Beckham corner kick was whipped in for SuperPippo's free header from six yards, left totally unmarked.
Matteo Sereni blocked another Inzaghi header from a long Beckham pass, while the goalkeeper also controlled Pippo's shot set up by Alexandre Pato. The young Brazilian went for goal at the back post when he should've crossed for the unmarked Inzaghi.
Nelson Dida smothered a Blerim Dzemaili snapshot after 34 minutes, but it was all Milan and the two stars combined again. Kaka went on the counter and Beckham dummied a shot from outside the box, but instead placed the ball on Inzaghi's head for a second goal.
Claudio Rivalta went off with a muscular problem to make way for Paolo Hernan Dellafiore.
Another corner wreaked havoc in the Granata box, Flamini volleying inches over the bar. Kaka should've scored a third when Flamini cut back Andrea Pirlo's long ball from the byline, but the Brazilian shinned it well over.
Brazil boss Carlos Dunga was in the stands, but Pato picked up a slight knock so he was replaced by Ronaldinho for the second half, while Jurgen Saumel came on for Dzemaili.
There was a comical moment when Massimo Ambrosini accidentally ran into the back of the referee and knocked him over!
Rolando Bianchi almost scored a Giuseppe Mascara-style stunner from 40 yards out, but it was just over with Dida backpedalling furiously.
Inzaghi completed his hat-trick on the hour mark. Ronaldinho's through ball allowed SuperPippo to spring the offside trap and he kept his cool to blast over Sereni from 10 yards. Inzaghi had also scored a treble against Toro in a 6-0 victory back in 2002.
Toro created a good chance to pull one back on the counter with Alessandro Rosina and Ignazio Abate combining well, but Bianchi misunderstood the direction of the pass behind the defence.
Inzaghi was given a standing ovation by San Siro as he made way for Andriy Shevchenko. Soon after the referee pointed to the spot as Ambrosini went through the middle on another through ball and Sereni came flying out to knock him over. Kaka stepped up and converted low despite Sereni guessing the right angle.
Paolo Maldini was also rested, giving youngster Darmian a chance to shine.
Toro got a consolation goal late on with Milan's habitual problems from set plays, as a corner ricocheted around the box until Ivan Franceschini redirected Simone Barone's effort from six yards.
Kaka's effort from distance took a deflection to whistle wide of the far post, but in the final minute he threaded through for Ambrosini to rush into the box and place an angled drive into the far bottom corner.
Milan: Dida; Flamini, Senderos, Maldini (Darmian 72), Zambrotta; Beckham, Pirlo, Ambrosini; Kaka; Pato (Ronaldinho 46), Inzaghi (Shevchenko 65)
Torino: Sereni; Rivalta (Dellafiore 40), Natali, Franceschini, Rubin (Ogbonna 65); Abate, Dzemaili (Saumel 46), Barone, Diana; Rosina; Bianchi
Ref: Banti
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