Giuseppe Pancaro is normally noted for his prowess in defence, but the experienced full-back came up trumps at the other end of the field to seal a win over 10-man Brescia and keep AC Milan in hot pursuit of Serie A leaders Roma.

Pancaro was given time and space by the Brescia defence to head home Andrea Pirlo's corner nine minutes from time, just when it appeared as though the Rossoneri would not be able to break down their opponents' excellent rearguard.

For all their quality in defence, Brescia offered little in attack, and their frustrations were embodied when defender Dario Dainelli was sent off in stoppage time for a shove on substitute Jon Dahl Tomasson.

The intervention of former Lazio player Pancaro - scoring his first goal for Milan since moving north from Rome in the summer - was enough to decide a game which was desperately short on goalmouth incident.

But Milan boss Carlo Ancelotti has rarely given much thought to the spectacle, and he will be delighted at a win which leaves his team just three points behind Roma in the race for the Scudetto.

Ancelotti's opposite number Gianni De Biasi made clear his intention to frustrate Milan from the start by keeping defence and midfield unusually deep, which left strikers Roberto Baggio and Andrea Caracciolo increasingly isolated in attack.

The home side did create the best chance of the first half, however.

The ball broke to Matteo Brighi following a skirmish outside the Milan area, but the former Juventus midfielder delayed too long and enabled Paolo Maldini to divert his shot away for a corner.

Andrei Shevchenko thought he was clear on goal in the 34th minute, but he was denied by a superb last-ditch challenge by Dainelli as the first half ended goalless.

Early in the second half, Brazilian defender Cafu was lucky to get away with what looked like a blatant obstruction on compatriot Matuzalem, who was chasing into the box to latch onto a superb flick from Baggio.

The Divine Ponytail was withdrawn 18 minutes into the second half with what looked like an injury, and his replacement Simone Del Conero had a major hand in the incident which should have led to Brescia taking the lead.

Milan goalkeeper Dida saved his 73rd-minute shot well after Del Nero had been played in by Caracciolo, and from the resulting corner Stefano Mauri somehow shot wide at the far post with the goal at his mercy.

And the home side were made to pay for such profligacy eight minutes, Pancaro nodding Pirlo's corner beyond goalkeeper Federico Agliardi and into the corner of the net.

Brazilian forward Kaka hit the bar with a clever chip over Agliardi in the 87th minute, but it did not matter for Milan, who kept their unbeaten record away from home intact.

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