Juve break Milan's heart in injury time
Controversial 95th minute penalty gives Old Lady all three points
PHOTO: AFP
MILAN:
Juventus went 11 points clear in Italy on Friday when a contentious injury time penalty gave them a 2-1 win over 10-man AC Milan and a 31st successive home triumph.
The defending champions looked set to be held by their old rivals, who had stunned the 32-time Serie A winners 1-0 at the San Siro earlier in the season, after Carlos Bacca had cancelled out Medhi Benatia's opener for the league leaders.
But in the closing minutes, Milan lost Jose Sousa to a red card for lashing out at Kwadwo Asamoah before Mattia De Sciglio was penalised for hand ball.
Argentine striker Paulo Dybala kept his nerve to slot the penalty past teenage goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma who had pulled off a series of stunning saves to keep Milan in the game.
The three points also allowed Juventus to look ahead to their Champions League last 16 return against Porto, who they lead 2-0, next week.
Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri admitted he hadn't seen the penalty converted.
"The game was over. I was already in the tunnel and I preferred not to see the penalty," said Allegri. "We were going to either win or draw. Paulo did well, because it's never easy to put a penalty past Donnarumma, especially in the form he was in tonight."
Milan coach Vincenzo Montella attempted to play down the controversy over the penalty which had led to angry scenes with his players venting their frustration with the referee.
"I don't want to talk about referees but there is a big difference between a penalty 10 minutes in and one at the 95th minute," Montella told Mediaset Premium.
Juventus suffered a setback in the warm-up when Croatian striker Mario Mandzukic was struck down with illness.
But the champions were soon into their stride and deservedly took the lead on the half-hour mark when Moroccan centre-back Benatia was picked out by a Dani Alves cross over the top of the defence.
Benatia chested down the pass and drove the ball beyond the despairing dive of 18-year-old keeper Donnarumma.
But Juve were put on the back foot just before the break when Spanish winger Gerard Deulofeu danced down the flanks to set up Colombian international Bacca for the equaliser.
It was Bacca's fourth goal in his last three Serie A games.
Donnarumma then kept Milan in touch with saves from Miralem Pjanic, Sami Khedira and Gonzalo Higuain but he was left shattered by the last-minute drama.
Milan stay in seventh place, 20 points behind Juventus and seven off the final Champions League qualifying place.
Juventus went 11 points clear in Italy on Friday when a contentious injury time penalty gave them a 2-1 win over 10-man AC Milan and a 31st successive home triumph.
The defending champions looked set to be held by their old rivals, who had stunned the 32-time Serie A winners 1-0 at the San Siro earlier in the season, after Carlos Bacca had cancelled out Medhi Benatia's opener for the league leaders.
But in the closing minutes, Milan lost Jose Sousa to a red card for lashing out at Kwadwo Asamoah before Mattia De Sciglio was penalised for hand ball.
Dybala double gives Juventus Italian Cup control
Argentine striker Paulo Dybala kept his nerve to slot the penalty past teenage goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma who had pulled off a series of stunning saves to keep Milan in the game.
The three points also allowed Juventus to look ahead to their Champions League last 16 return against Porto, who they lead 2-0, next week.
Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri admitted he hadn't seen the penalty converted.
"The game was over. I was already in the tunnel and I preferred not to see the penalty," said Allegri. "We were going to either win or draw. Paulo did well, because it's never easy to put a penalty past Donnarumma, especially in the form he was in tonight."
Milan coach Vincenzo Montella attempted to play down the controversy over the penalty which had led to angry scenes with his players venting their frustration with the referee.
"I don't want to talk about referees but there is a big difference between a penalty 10 minutes in and one at the 95th minute," Montella told Mediaset Premium.
Juventus suffered a setback in the warm-up when Croatian striker Mario Mandzukic was struck down with illness.
But the champions were soon into their stride and deservedly took the lead on the half-hour mark when Moroccan centre-back Benatia was picked out by a Dani Alves cross over the top of the defence.
Benatia chested down the pass and drove the ball beyond the despairing dive of 18-year-old keeper Donnarumma.
But Juve were put on the back foot just before the break when Spanish winger Gerard Deulofeu danced down the flanks to set up Colombian international Bacca for the equaliser.
Dybala sparks 10-point lead for Juventus
It was Bacca's fourth goal in his last three Serie A games.
Donnarumma then kept Milan in touch with saves from Miralem Pjanic, Sami Khedira and Gonzalo Higuain but he was left shattered by the last-minute drama.
Milan stay in seventh place, 20 points behind Juventus and seven off the final Champions League qualifying place.