AC Milan took benefit of Atalanta’s stumble in Serie A on Saturday because the defending champion moved as much as second place after a late purpose by striker Olivier Giroud helped them to a house 2-1 win over relegation-threatened Spezia.
Milan moved as much as 29 factors, overtaking Atalanta which was beaten 2-1 by leaders Napoli earlier on Saturday.
“So far as mentality and character are involved, we’re second to none,” Milan coach Stefano Pioli informed Sky Italia.
“We all know we have now to assert quite a lot of factors, we wish to get to November 13 with the very best standings attainable. We have now to give attention to our personal race.”
Milan got here near opening the scoring within the 14th minute when defender Fikayo Tomori aimed for the center of the purpose however Spezia goalkeeper Bartlomiej Dragowski denied his effort.
Two minutes later, Milan midfielder Rade Krunic hit the crossbar after which a header by Brahim Diaz in direction of the underside proper nook was parried by the Polish keeper.
Dragowski saved one other shot, from Junior Messias, within the 18th minute, however was crushed three minutes later when Theo Hernandez transformed a shocking cross from Ismael Bennacer, sending it contained in the close to put up.
The purpose was subjected to a prolonged VAR evaluation for a possible offside within the build-up however the referee declared it legitimate 5 minutes later.
Rafael Leao might have doubled Milan’s lead earlier than halftime however his try from the sting of the field crashed towards the bar. Krunic adopted up from contained in the six-yard field however Dragowski saved his low shot.
Spezia drew stage simply earlier than the hour mark by way of ahead Daniel Maldini who fired residence a curled shot from the nook of the field.
The 21-year-old, on mortgage from Milan, scored his first Serie A purpose for Spezia and broke his facet’s scoring drought away from residence as his father, former Milan and Italy captain Paolo Maldini, watched from the stands.
Milan thought it had retaken the lead within the sixty fifth minute when Divock Origi arrange Sandro Tonali for a gorgeous strike from outdoors the field however the purpose was dominated out by the VAR for a foul within the build-up.
Giroud obtained the winner with an outstanding first-time shot from a good angle after getting a cross from Tonali within the 89th minute however moments later the Frenchman collected a second yellow card, for taking off his shirt, and was despatched off.
Milan, which is six factors behind Napoli, travels to relegation-threatened Cremonese on Tuesday whereas Spezia, which is seventeenth on 9 factors and three above the relegation zone, hosts Udinese earlier that day.
