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Ibrahimovic on target in Milan win

Published:Sunday | January 12, 2020 | 1:00 AM
AP
Milan’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic celebrates with teammates after scoring his side’s second goal during an Italian Serie A soccer match between Cagliari and Milan in Cagliari, Saturday, Jan. 11, 2020.
AP Milan’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic celebrates with teammates after scoring his side’s second goal during an Italian Serie A soccer match between Cagliari and Milan in Cagliari, Saturday, Jan. 11, 2020.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is back.

Ibrahimovic scored in his first start back at AC Milan to end the Rossoneri’s goalless run and help them to a 2-0 win at Cagliari in Serie A yesterday.

The 38-year-old Ibrahimovic netted Milan’s second goal in the 64th minute. Theo Hernández put in a cross from the left and Ibrahimovic hit it first time into the bottom right corner.

The Swede raised his arms above his head in celebration and then turned to the AC Milan fans, pumping his fist and encouraging their chants for him.

Ibrahimovic, who helped Milan to their last Serie A title in 2011, has rejoined the Italian club until the end of the season with an option for another year.

He made his first Serie A appearance in nearly eight years on Monday, coming off the bench in a 0-0 draw at home to Sampdoria.

Ibrahimovic played the full 90 minutes in Sardinia and had the best chance of the first half as a header from a tight angle was kept out by a fine fingertip save from Cagliari goalkeeper – and Swedish compatriot – Robin Olsen.

Milan hadn’t scored for three straight matches and it was a stroke of luck which ended that run, right at the start of the second half, as Rafael Leão’s shot took a massive deflection to loop over Olsen.

Ibrahimovc thought he had doubled his tally with a diving header late on but it was ruled out for offside.

The win puts Milan four points behind sixth-place Cagliari.