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Van Bommel off as Milan's double hopes ended by Palermo

May 11, 2011 09:21 IST

Serie A champions AC Milan's double hopes ended in a 2-1 Coppa Italia defeat at Palermo on Tuesday in which midfielder Mark van Bommel was sent off.

Giulio Migliaccio and Cesare Bovo, with a penalty, scored in the second half of the semi-final second leg as the Sicilians completed a 4-3 aggregate win.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic replied in stoppage time for AC Milan who clinched the Serie A title on Saturday.

Bovo was sent off almost immediately after his goal for a high kick on Alexandre Pato as Palermo reached the final for the third time, having lost the previous two.

After sitting back for the first half, Palermo -- who have never won a major trophy -- came to life after the break, inspired by Argentine Javier Pastore in midfield and Uruguayan Abel Hernandez up front.

Migliaccio put Palermo ahead with a diving header from a corner in the 63rd minute before Pastore sent Josip Ilicic clear but he was hauled back by Van Bommel as he was about to shoot.

The hard-tackling Dutchman was given straight red card before Bovo converted the penalty, only to be sent off himself two minutes later.

Ibrahimovic's flicked goal came too late for Milan.

Source: REUTERS
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