The Rossoneri’s Serie A title hopes suffered a blow as they were on the receiving end of a shock 2-1 defeat at the hands of the low-lying Spezia. Meanwhile, Napoli got their title bid back on track with a 2-0 win over Bologna.
Spezia goalkeeper Ivan Provedel was a busy man in the first half; the custodian made superb stops from Rafael Leao, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and Alexis Saelemaekers to keep the scores at 0-0.
Ironically, the custodian conceded a late first-half penalty when he miscontrolled the ball and brought Leao down as the attacker stole it off him. Spezia survived the scare as Theo Hernandez put his spot-kick wide on the brink of half-time but still went into the break a goal down, as Leao scored with seconds left to play. The Portuguese attacker raced onto a long pass by Rade Krunic before lifting the ball over an onrushing Provedel.
Despite taking the lead right at the end of the first half, Milan failed to consolidate their position and allowed Spezia a route back into the game. Thiago Motta’s side increased its intensity and was level through substitute Kevin Agudelo, as he tapped in a cross from Daniele Verde from close range, four minutes past the hour mark.
Milan went in search of the winning goal and thought they had one in the 93rd minute when Junior Messias curled the ball in from just inside the box, only to realize that the referee, controversially, had blown his whistle for a foul on Ante Rebic in the build-up.
To make matters worse, Spezia scored the winner in the sixth minute of stoppage time through Emmanuel Gyasi, who was left with a tap-in after Spezia had won the ball high up inside the Milan half.
The loss left Stefano Pioli’s side two points behind rivals Inter Milan, having played a game more.
Elsewhere, Hirving Lozano scored twice in the win over Bologna to keep Napoli’s title bid intact. The Mexican attacker scored his first in the 20th minute, diverting an Eljif Elmas cross from the left past the goalkeeper.
The Mexico international scored again in the second half, tapping in at the end of a sensational counter-attack by the Partenopei as they swept from box to box and in-between the Bologna lines within 20 seconds. Lozano, who would receive a square pass from Fabian Ruiz at the end of the build-up, left the goalkeeper on the ground with a deft touch before firing the ball into an empty net.
Luciano Spalletti’s men remained third following their win – four points ahead of Atalanta, albeit having played a game more. Nevertheless, the Neapolitans could fall further behind leaders Inter Milan if the latter win their game in hand.
