AC Milan 0 Fiorentina 1: Chiesa heaps more misery on Milan
December 22, 2018 17:00 MYT
Federico Chiesa's strike 17 minutes from time earned Fiorentina their first away win of the season as AC Milan's recent struggles continued in a 1-0 loss at San Siro.
The visitors barely threatened Gianluigi Donnarumma's goal but Chiesa jinked past Davide Calabria and fired home his first goal since September to settle the contest.
The Rossoneri have now won just one of their previous six contests in Serie A and have failed to score in any of their last three.
Milan also dropped out of the top four thanks to Lazio's win earlier in the day, with Fiorentina now just two points behind them in seventh.
72’ FEDERICO CHIESAAAAAAAAA #MilanFiorentina 0-1 #NoiSiamoFirenze #InsiemeSiamoPiùForti pic.twitter.com/KIW5L94tm8
— ACF Fiorentina (@acffiorentina) December 22, 2018
Milan entered this contest on the back of two 0-0 draws in Serie A and failed to find a way through in the opening 45 minutes, despite creating plenty of opportunities.
Hakan Calhanoglu spurned one of the best, firing wide in the 18th minute after a stroke of fortune saw the ball ricochet back into his path in the box following an attempted give and go with Suso.
Fiorentina goalkeeper Alban Lafont brilliantly parried away a viciously struck effort from Ricardo Rodriguez while Calhanoglu was denied by Nikola Milenkovic's clearance off the line on the stroke of half-time.
It took until the 51st minute for Fiorentina to fashion their first decent opening as Kevin Mirallas hooked way over from inside the box.
Lafont was kept busy at the other end, though, denying Suso at his near post and then preventing Gonzalo Higuain's header from creeping past him.
With just over 20 minutes to go Milan coach Gennaro Gattuso threw on Diego Laxalt and Patrick Cutrone in a bid to inject some life into his below-par outfit but it was Fiorentina that would claim the winner.
Chiesa knocked the ball inside Calabria and his right-footed attempt crashed into the corner. Lafont then tipped Rodriguez's header over as Milan fell to their fourth league loss of the season.
What does it mean? Pressure building on Gattuso
Milan unable to find a way past Lafont
Milan did have their chances but French teenager Lafont was equal to everything thrown at him. Rodriguez in particular must be wondering how on earth he did not score as Lafont parried away an attempt destined for goal in the first half before displaying terrific agility to tip over a late header from the Swiss too.
Goal-shy Gonzalo fails to fire again
3 - AC Milan haven’t found the net in three consecutive Serie A games for the first time since November 2001. Lack. #MilanFiorentina
— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) December 22, 2018
Key Opta Facts
Milan have failed to score in three Serie A games in a row for the first time since November 2001.
What's next?
Milan's next assignment is a trip to Frosinone, who are under new management after replacing Moreno Longo with Marco Baroni this week. Fiorentina welcome Parma to Florence on Wednesday.