AC Milan nailed a vital 1-0 Serie A victory over Fiorentina at the San Siro on Saturday to keep pressure on top two Inter and Juventus, Xinhua reported.
Third-placed Milan began the day nine points behind leaders Inter Milan but closed the gap to just six ahead of their leaders' trip to Atalanta on Sunday.
Brazilian teenager Pato snatched the winner to condemn Fiorentina to a second successive defeat, who remain in sixth place in the table.
Milan survived an early penalty scare as Stevan Jovetic ran into the area and took the ball around goalkeeper Christian Abbiati who got the slightest of touches on the ball before up-ending the attacking midfielder.
The referee originally pointed to the spot but then changed his mind after consulting the linesman.
Milan had the lead through a sumptuous strike from Pato on seven minutes. Beckham had tried to cross from the left but hit a defender.
As players rushed to the loose ball, Beckham got there just before two Fiorentina defenders and poked it back to Marek Jankulovski who played in Pato in the space vacated by the visiting players.
There looked to be little danger from his position just inside the box in the left hand corner but Pato hit a stunning strike across goal and in off the far post.
Fiorentina should have equalized on 66 minutes when Vargas got to the byline and crossed to Mario Santana but the Argentine put his shot too close to Abbiati who managed to save.
