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Following inexcusable errors by Inter Milan’s and Napoli’s
goalkeepers in recent matches, AC Milan was the beneficiary of a massive
mistake by Fiorentina’s ’keeper in the final 10 minutes of a 1-0 win Sunday
that kept the Rossoneri on track for their first Italian league title in more
than a decade.
Pietro Terracciano’s clearance attempt landed right at the
feet of Rafael Leão and the Milan striker quickly strode into Fiorentina’s area
and shot past the unfortunate goalkeeper.
Terracciano then buried his head in his arms as he sat
distraught on the San Siro pitch, while the goal whipped the crowd into a
frenzy even though Leão kept his celebration to a minimum — just creating the
shape of a heart with his fingers.
“It’s the greatest moment for a footballer — to score a
decisive goal,” Leão said. “But the most important thing was the victory,
because we created a lot and perhaps we were a bit anxious in front of the
goal.”
With three matches remaining, Milan moved five points ahead
of defending champion Inter, which was playing at Udinese later.
Milan, which also holds the tiebreaker edge over Inter,
controls its own destiny as it attempts to seal its first Serie A title since
2011. Two wins and a draw in Milan’s remaining matches would be enough for the
“scudetto” — no matter what Inter does.
Inter, meanwhile, is still getting over the mistake that
reserve goalkeeper Ionuț Radu made in a 2-1 loss at Bologna midweek.
Attempting to clear following a throw in, Radu instead
kicked the ball toward his own net and Bologna’s Nicola Sansone had the final
touch to make sure it went in for the winner.
Last weekend, Napoli goalkeeper Alex Meret took too long to
clear and when he finally did try to launch the ball away from his goal, Andrea
Pinamonti was right on top of him and the ball ricocheted off the Empoli
striker and into Meret’s net. That mistake helped Empoli to a 3-2 comeback win
and virtually eliminated third-place Napoli from the title race.
Milan, which extended its unbeaten streak to 13 matches,
plays Hellas Verona, Atalanta and Sassuolo in its last three games of the
season.
“The next matches are like finals and we’ve got to win them
to achieve our objective,” Leão said.
BONUCCI’S BIRTHDAY BRACE
Defender Leonardo Bonucci scored twice as Juventus virtually
sealed a Champions League spot with a 2-1 win over last-place Venezia.
On his 35th birthday, Bonucci first scored with a header
following a free kick then found the target following a corner for the winner
after Mattia Aramu had equalized for Venezia.
Fourth-place Juventus moved 10 points ahead of fifth-place
Lazio and within one point of Napoli.
Venezia, which fired coach Paolo Zanetti on Wednesday and
put youth team coach Andrea Soncin in charge, lost its ninth straight.
Venezia remained six points behind 17th-place Cagliari.
Also, Torino striker Andrea Belotti scored three goals in the
final 12 minutes of a 3-1 win at 10-man Empoli. -AP