AC Milan missed the chance to pile pressure on local rivals Inter in the Serie A title fight after falling to a 1-0 defeat at Lazio on Sunday, as Como beat 10-man Roma 2-1 to increase their hopes of a shock Champions League qualification.<\/p>\n
Faced with the chance of cutting Inter’s league lead to five points, Milan fluffed their lines and fell to a second defeat in four matches.<\/p>\n
Gustav Isaksen’s calm finish midway through the second half allowed Inter to increase the gap separating them from Milan to eight points even though they only managed to draw 1-1 with Atalanta on Saturday.<\/p>\n
It was a huge let-off for Inter, who lost the Milan derby last weekend but with nine matches left in the season remain big favourites to reclaim the league title from Napoli.<\/p>\n
“Everyone was talking about the Scudetto after Inter drew but you have to be realistic,” said Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri.<\/p>\n
“We’re doing good things this season and we have to concentrate on our objective which is (qualifying for) the Champions League otherwise we risk ruining what we’ve built.”<\/p>\n
Milan are still on course for that goal as they are seven points ahead of fifth-placed Juventus.<\/p>\n
But they were slow out of the traps at a loud Stadio Olimpico where Lazio’s hardcore supporters returned after weeks of staying away in protest against the Rome club’s direction under long-time owner Claudio Lotito.<\/p>\n
Netherlands attacker Kenneth Taylor smashed a shot off the crossbar as Lazio dominated the opening half, before Milan took control after the break without properly testing rookie goalkeeper Edoardo Motta.<\/p>\n
Maurizio Sarri was sent off in a tense finale as the Lazio coach exploded at officials for the length of stoppage time, with his team desperately trying to hold on for the points.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Como’s UCL charge<\/p>\n
Trailing at the break to Donyell Malen’s early penalty, Como showed why they have shaken things up in Italy’s top flight by coming back to beat a key rival for the final spot in Europe’s elite club competition.<\/p>\n
Cesc Fabregas’s tiny but wealthy team are fourth, a point above Juve thanks to Tasos Douvikas’ low drive in the 59th minute and Diego Carlos — who gave away Roma’s penalty — poking home the winner in front of delighted home fans 20 minutes later.<\/p>\n
“I’m pleased with the desire and mentality shown by the team,” said Fabregas.<\/p>\n
“We’re a young team and we still have a lot to learn… we can’t let ourselves get big-headed because of this win.”<\/p>\n
Between Como’s two goals Roma defender Wesley was sent off for two bookable offences as the away side failed to deal with a lakeside onslaught in the second half.<\/p>\n
Roma coach Gian Piero Gasperini was livid with referee Davide Massa’s decision to show Wesley a second yellow card as the Brazilian barely touched Assane Diao who nonetheless fell to the turf as he charged towards goal.<\/p>\n
“It was nothing, you can see from images that he does nothing,” Gasperini told Sky.<\/p>\n
“It’s not the first time Como find themselves in that situation, they’re looking for them, looking a little bit too hard for them in my opinion.<\/p>\n
“But that’s what football has become.”<\/p>\n
Como have never played European football in their turbulent history, which until they were taken over by tobacco giants Djarum in 2019 featured more bankruptcies than on-field success.<\/p>\n
Roma, in sixth, haven’t qualified for the Champions League since 2018 and trail Como by three points with nine matches left remaining in the season.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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