Three goals in nine first half minutes helped AC Milan come from behind to beat Parma 4-3 and climb to second in Serie A behind Juventus on Sunday.

The win gave Milan 40 points from 18 matches, one point ahead of city rivals Inter who could only manage a goalless draw with Siena. Champions Juventus still comfortably lead the division on 49 points after a 2-1 defeat of Palermo on Saturday. 

In the early stages at the San Siro, the visitors were pressed back into their own half and Milan strikers Andriy Shevchenko and Alberto Gilardino both narrowly missed the target.

It was Parma, however, who took the lead in the 24th minute courtesy of a howler by Milan keeper Dida, who fumbled a corner leaving Paolo Cannavaro the easiest of tap-ins.

AC Milan's Andriy Shevchenko control the ball during Italian Serie A soccer match against Parma at the San Siro Stadium in Milan, January 8, 2006. (Xinhua)

Milan hit back with three goals in nine minutes, starting in the 27th minute when Parma defender Giuseppe Cardone deflected Kaka's low cross past his own keeper.

Gilardino then put Milan ahead. The 23-year-old Italy international, who moved to Milan from Parma during the close season, headed a Shevchenko cross past keeper Matteo Guardalben.

Kaka grabbed their third, taking advantage of a poor clearance to beat Guardalben from the edge of the area.

Parma showed flashes of class and Marco Marchionni pulled a goal back in the 70th minute but a poacher's goal by Shevchenko restored Milan's two-goal cushion.

Marchionni dribbled through the Milan defence to grab his second goal of the match five minutes from time, but it was too little, too late.

Editor: Donald