After a disappointing defeat to Bayer Leverkusen during the week Milan travelled to Florence to take on Raffaele Palladino’s Viola side. Despite having two penalties and a host of other chances, the Rossoneri lost 2-1 as a Dazzling De Gea denies Milan.
The scenes at full time showed exactly how much this win meant to the Fiorentina faithful amd players as they climb to 10 points, one behind their opponents.
Alvaro Morata‘s headed effort was wide of the target 15 minutes to start off, but it was Fiorentina who had the bigger chance to take the lead.
Thep Hernandez slightly caught Dodo trying to clear a ball and V.A.R. intervened. After going to review the challenge referee Luca Pairetto pointed to the spot and Moise Kean stepped up.
Kean Can’t Convert
The in-form striker produced a disappointing central effort that was held by Mike Maignan with ease. It looked like the Viola had passed up the biggest chance of the half but continued to push.
Kean had the ball in the net but was offside, a sign of things to come as with ten minutes before the break Yacine Adli controlled a throw in on the left and ran a ring around Christian Pulisic before expertly finding the far corner with his shot to give the home side the lead.
Rafael Leão had two chances to level things but couldn’t convert either before the Rossoneri were given a spot kick of their own. Tijani Reijnders felt a touch in the back from Luca Ranieri while through on goal and went down with a minute left in the opening half.
Another Spot-Kick
Captain Hernandez was entrusted with the bringing his team level but was denied by a spectacular save from David De Gea. The Spaniard confidently picked a side and pushed the effort that was bound for the corner away.
Instead of Milan it was Fiorentina who went down the tunnel brimming with confidence.
Barely ten minutes into the second period they had reason to be worried again. In trying to clear a ball Kean kicked through Matteo Gabbia and the penalty festival was in full swing.
De Gea Déjà Vu
This time Tammy Abraham tried his luck but De Gea made another super save, even better than the first. He quickly got down to his left to get a strong hand to the ball to deny Milan once again.
This was turning out to be quite the night for the Fiorentina goalie.
Pulisic Pulls it Back
Pulisic was having none of this though and levelled for his side on the hour mark after meeting a deep Hernandez cross first time on the volley. Milan wanted to take charge from here but instead we were treated to an end to end last half hour.
Kean will feel hard done by not to be on the score sheet tonight, he hit a flying shot over the bar in mid air before making a remarkable run that ended with another shot way over.
Up the other end Pulisic was played through by Leão only to be denied by skipper Ranieri at the last moment. The Rossoneri attack tried to up the pace and get ahead but were dealt a killer blow in the 73rd minute.
Gudmundsson Grabs the Winner
A high ball caught Fikayo Tomori out and landed infront of Albert Gudmundsson who blasted his half volley home with no trouble. A well taken goal.
Paolo Fonseca tried to save a point by replacing Leão and Pulisic with Noah Okafor and Samuel Chukweze but it was all in vain.
The chaotic theme of the night continued as Roberto Palladino was sent off with the clock ticking towards full time.
Dazzling De Gea Denies Milan
Without doubt the man of the match tonight was De Gea between the posts for the Viola and he underlined his presence with a great save on a Chukweze shot from long range.
To cap off this thriller Kean rattled the crossbar deep in injury time. Hernandez created another headache for his manager by getting sent off for dissent after the final whistle. Pairetto brandished a direct red card without hesitation.
All round this was a deserved loss for Milan who were offered two gilt edged chances with their penalties and other opportunities. De Gea is the hero of the night for the home side, and deservedly so, a magical performance from the ‘keeper as a Dazzling De Gea denies Milan.