Roma ruin Maldini's San Siro swansong
Sunday, May 24, 2009
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Paolo Maldini's farewell to the San Siro faithful was soured by a 3-2 loss for AC Milan against AS Roma that dropped the Rossoneri down to third behind Juventus, who ended their seven-game winless run at AC Siena.
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Paolo Maldini's farewell to the San Siro faithful was soured by a 3-2 loss for AC Milan against AS Roma that dropped the Rossoneri down to third behind Juventus, who sealed a UEFA Champions League group stage berth at AC Siena with their first win in eight games.
Totti winner
Aged 40, Milan veteran Maldini is to hang up his boots at the end of the season and he had hoped to bid a victorious goodbye to the fans he has entertained since 1985. Instead, the home side were twice obliged to come from behind after Roma registered through John Arne Riise (36) and Jérémy Menez (80). Massimo Ambrosini levelled the scores on both occasions, finding the back of the net after 75 and 81 minutes, but Francesco Totti put the visitors back in front with a free-kick five minutes from time and Ambrosini received a red card shortly after.
Fiorentina test
Defeat leaves Milan vulnerable to missing out on an automatic UEFA Champions League group stage place as Juve gave new coach Ciro Ferrara a 3-0 triumph at Siena in his first game, Alessandro Del Piero striking twice. The Bianconeri are certain of finishing either second or third, thanks to their head-to-head record against Milan, while Carlo Ancelotti's men could still miss out if they are defeated at ACF Fiorentina next Sunday. The Viola are guaranteed a UEFA Champions League play-off round spot at the very least courtesy of Martin Jørgensen's last-gasp equaliser in a 1-1 draw at US Lecce, his goal also relegating the home side.
Torino trouble
Newly-crowned champions FC Internazionale Milano succumbed 2-1 at Cagliari Calcio. In fifth, Genoa CFC booked themselves a place in the UEFA Europa League play-off round by winning 3-2 at Torino FC, with Roma due to participate in the third qualifying round. Torino slipped into the bottom three after their latest setback, level on points with Bologna FC, who could only draw 0-0 at AC Chievo Verona. Elsewhere, Atalanta BC and US Città di Palermo drew 2-2, as did UC Sampdoria and Udinese Calcio, while Calcio Catania downed SSC Napoli 3-1.
