Jose Mourinho was left gesticulating in disapproval after two grievous errors from his Roma players handed AC Milan a 3-1 win in Serie A.
First, striker Tammy Abraham stuck out his arm to block a shot that resulted in a penalty for Milan, then defender Roger Ibanez made a terrible back pass that was intercepted by Olivier Giroud, leading to the Rossoneri’s second goal in just the 17th minute.
Giroud converted the penalty and Junior Messias scored Milan’s second on a rebound after Giroud’s effort hit the post.
Abraham then pulled one back for Roma with a deflection but Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan maintained the team’s advantage with a series of superb saves.
Milan also hit the goalframe twice, while Roma finished with nine men when Rick Karsdorp and Gianluca Mancini each picked up their second yellow cards — which will mean they’ll be suspended for Sunday’s game against Juventus.
With Roma down to 10 men, Rafael Leao restored Milan’s two-goal advantage after being set up with a chested pass from fellow substitute Zlatan Ibrahimovic to sprint in alone toward goal. Ibrahimovic then had a penalty attempt saved by Rui Patrício. Mourinho questioned decisions by referee Daniele Chiffi and VAR official Gianluca Aureliano.
Milan moved within one point of Serie A leader Inter Milan, whose game at Bologna was among postponed after the hosts were ordered into quarantine.
The other games affected were Atalanta vs. Torino, Salernitana vs. Venezia and Fiorentina vs. Udinese.
Thursday’s matches were held on a national holiday in Italy, the Epiphany. Another full slate of 10 matches is scheduled for Sunday.
Napoli drops points
Virus-depleted Napoli drew 1-1 at Juventus despite missing five players — plus coach Luciano Spalletti — who tested positive for COVID-19.
Dries Mertens opened the scoring for Napoli with a shot through Alex Sandro’s legs then Federico Chiesa equalized with a shot through the legs of Stanislav Lobotka.
Third-place Napoli dropped five points behind Milan while Juventus, which had captain Giorgio Chiellini out positive with the coronavirus, remained fifth.
The results: AC Milan 3 (Giroud 8-pen, Messias 17, Leao 82) bt Roma 1 (Abraham 40); Juventus 1 (Chiesa 54) drew with Napoli 1 (Mertens 23); Lazio 3 (Immobile 14, Milinkovic-Savic 66, 90+3) drew with Empoli 3 (Bajrami 6-pen, Zurkowski 8, Di Francesco 75); Sampdoria 1 (Gabbiadini 18) lost to Cagliari 2 (Deiola 55, Pavoletti 71); Sassuolo 1 (Berardi 55) drew with Genoa 1 (Destro 7); Spezia 1 (Erlic 85) lost to Verona 2 (Caprari 59 & 70).
