LAZIO 0 AC MILAN 3 Pato (42), Ambrossini (48), Kaka (83)
DAVID Beckham is having a bigger effect on the Serie A title race than anyone expected.
The former England captain continued his impressive form to give AC Milan's Serie A title hopes a huge boost with a resounding win at Lazio this morning.
The 33-year-old, on a short-term deal with Milan from LA Galaxy, had been a doubt before the game with a leg muscle problem.
However, he did start and was chief orchestrator in the game, with pin-point crosses to create goals for Alexandre Pato and Massimo Ambrosini either side of half-time.
Kaka killed the game off with seven minutes remaining as Milan narrowed the gap on Serie A leaders Inter-Milan, who were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Torino, to six points.
The Rossoneri are now second after leap-frogging Juventus, who lost 3-2 earlier in the morning to Cagliari.
Lazio, looking to bounce back from emphatic defeats against Cagliari and Sampdoria, started well and earned two corners in the opening minutes.
Slick
Despite the hosts' early efforts, it was Milan who almost broke the deadlock in the sixth minute.
In a slick move, Kaka's incisive ball forward found Marek Jankulovski in the penalty area and the midfielder drew a fine one-handed save from goalkeeper Fernando Muslera with a close-range shot.
Lazio continued to pressurise and Mauro Zarate curled a free-kick high and wide.
Midway through the first half, Pandev beat his marker and played in Zarate inside the area, but his shot was saved by goalkeeper Christian Abbiati.
On the half-hour mark, Muslera did well to come off his line to deny Pato's touch from Beckham's perfect ball and at the other end, Pandev fired just over the bar.
Lazio should have broken the deadlock soon after.
Milan lost the ball in their own half and Pandev took advantage, passing to Zarate, whose effort inside the area was met by a brilliant save from Abbiati.
The home side were made to pay for its missed chances when Milan broke the deadlock in the 42nd minute.
Kaka passed to Beckham on the left and the former Real Madrid man cut inside before playing a inch-perfect pass to Pato, whose right-footed strike towards the far post beat Muslera.
The visitors had the ball in the net again just before half-time but Pato's header from Beckham's cross was disallowed for offside.
Dominate
Milan picked up where they left off after the break and extended their lead three minutes into the second half.
Beckham's free-kick from the right towards the far post found Ambrosini, who headed past a helpless Muslera.
At the other end, Meghni's left-footed strike forced Abbiati into a great save at full stretch.
The visitors continued to dominate possession and repeatedly beat Lazio's hapless offside trap, but both Pato and Kaka overran the ball before the latter then hit the outside of the post with a right-footed effort in the 72nd minute.
Lazio didn't learn their lessons though and once again Kaka got in behind the hosts' defence on 83 minutes from Clarence Seedorf's through ball.
This time, the Brazil playmaker made no mistake, calmly finishing past Muslera from an angle. -- Wire Services.
Serie A scores
INTER-MILAN 1 Burdisso (58) TORINO 1 Bianchi (47)
REGGINA 2 Corradi (43 pen), Cozza (81) AS ROMA 2 Pizarro (45, 57)
