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2 vs 1
Played
March 24, 2012 5:00 PM GMT
Stadio Giuseppe Meazza — Milano
Referee:‬ P. Mazzoleni‎
Attendance:‬ 53000‎
 
Top of the Match
Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Zlatan Ibrahimovic
AC Milan
Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Zlatan Ibrahimovic
AC Milan
Flop of the Match
Francesco Totti
Francesco Totti
Roma
Francesco Totti
Francesco Totti
Roma

AC Milan 2-1 Roma: Ibrahimovic brace saves Rossoneri as Thiago Silva suffers injury

Massimiliano Allegri's team were given a run for their money, but their star striker once again delivered a world-class performance to secure the three points

By Vasil Kotsev

AC Milan made an important step towards defending their Serie A crown as they came back from a goal down to secure a 2-1 win over Roma at San Siro on Saturday.

Pablo Osvaldo opened the scoring in the first half, but the Rossonerri responded with a brace by Zlatan Ibrahimovic after the break as Massimiliano Allegri's team bagged three important points.

AC Milan started the game brightly, dominating possession and pressing the opposition deep in their own half. Urby Emanuelson was the first to threaten Maarten Stekelenburg's goal as in the 8th minute he saw a low shot from the right wing saved by the Netherlands international.

The Rossoneri received some disturbing news as in the 10th minute Thiago Silva was forced to leave the pitch after suffering a muscle injury. This did not stop AC Milan's attacking momentum, however, as Massimiliano Allegri's men were dominating the proceeding.

Ibrahimovic forced Stekelenburg into a fine save in the 11th minute with a powerful free-kick and moments later Stephan El Shaarawy narrowly missed to the left with a skillful volley from inside the penalty area.

The tempo dropped in the following minutes as most of the action commenced in the centre of the pitch. Roma, however, were slowly improving and looked more threatening on the counter by the minute.

In the 40th minute El Shaarawy rattled the post with a superb finish from outside the box, and the rebound fell to Antonio Nocernio, who failed to connect properly with the ball and convert. AC Milan were tightening the grip on Roma, but against the run of play the Giallorossi took the lead.

A long-range strike by Daniele De Rossi was deflected by Osvaldo into the net from just outside the six-yard box as Christian Abbiati was caught by surprise in the 44th minute. The goal meant the Rossoneri had to withdrew at half-time with a one-goal deficit, much to the dismay of the fans and players alike.

The restart saw Roma continue to take advantage of mistakes by AC Milan in the build-up of their attack. In one such instance, Abbiati gifted the ball to Francesco Totti with a stray pass, but luckily for the goalkeeper the Roma veteran could not find the target with his chipped finish.

El Shaarawy saw a powerful shot blocked in the following attack, but the real trouble for the Giallorossi was yet to come. In the 51st minute De Rossi handballed in the box, conceding a penalty, which Ibrahimovic duly converted to draw the game level.

AC Milan continued to press forward in remaining time to the final whistle, but were repeatedly frustrated in their search for a winner. Sulley Muntary struck the bar with a powerful finish, but it was Ibrahimovic who bagged the winner as in the 83rd minute he powered past Stekelenburg and Simon Kjaer to complete his brace and secure the three points.

Following today win, AC Milan are first in the standings with 63 points, while Roma sit sixth with 45. The Rossoneri's next league game is a visit to Catania in a week, while the Giallorossi host Novara the following day.


AC Milan

32
Christian Abbiati
Goalkeeper
-
5
Philippe Mexes
Defender
-
25
Daniele Bonera
Defender
-
33
Thiago Silva
Defender
10′
-
11
Sulley Ali Muntari
Midfielder
83′ 93′
-
15
Djamel Mesbah
Midfielder
58′
-
22
Antonio Nocerino
Midfielder
-
23
Massimo Ambrosini
Midfielder
-
28
Urby Emanuelson
Midfielder
55′
-
11
-
92
-

Roma

-
24
-
5
Gabriel Heinze
Defender
52′
-
44
Simon Kjaer
Defender
-
87
Aleandro Rosi
Midfielder
-
7
Marquinho
Midfielder
-
11
Taddei
Midfielder
-
16
Daniele De Rossi
Midfielder
44′
-
19
Fernando Gago
Midfielder
80′
-
9
Pablo Osvaldo
Striker
29′ 44′
-
10
-
31
Fabio Borini
Striker
57′

Substitutes

1
Marco Amelia
Goalkeeper
-
13
-
19
-
10
Clarence Seedorf
Midfielder
-
18
Alberto Aquilani
Midfielder
86′
-
27
-
-
Carmona
Midfielder
-

Substitutes

-
18
Gianluca Curci
Goalkeeper
-
3
José Ángel
Defender
-
8
Erik Lamela
Striker
80′
-
15
Miralem Pjanic
Midfielder
57′
-
20
Simone Perrotta
Midfielder
-
30
-
14
Bojan Krkic
Striker
57′

Coach/Manager

Coach/Manager

-
-
 
  • Goal
  • Own Goal
  • Penalty
  • Penalty Missed
  • Yellow Card
  • Assist
  • Penalty Save
  • Penalty Shootout Goal
  • Penalty Shootout Miss
  • Yellow Card / Red Card
  • Red Card
  • Substitution IN
  • Substitution OUT
  • Injury
  • Goal.com Rating
  • Goal.com Man of the Match
  • Goal.com Flop of the Match
  • Top & Flop Global Ranking
  • Fans' Man of the Match
  • Fans' Flop of the Match
Results
 
Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Zlatan Ibrahimovic Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Striker
AC Milan
28 10
Diego Alberto Milito Diego Alberto Milito
Striker
Inter
24 8
Antonio Di Natale Antonio Di Natale
Striker
Udinese
23 4
Edinson  Cavani Edinson Cavani
Striker
Napoli
23 3
R. Palacio R. Palacio
Striker
Genoa
19 3