Milan pegged back by Catania
Saturday, March 31, 2012
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Nicolás Spolli prevented AC Milan from completing a fifth successive Serie A win as Catania Calcio earned a deserved 1-1 draw against the league leaders, while S.S. Lazio lost at Parma FC.
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Serie A leaders AC Milan dropped points for the first time in five matches after being held to a 1-1 draw at Catania Calcio on a night when S.S. Lazio lost at Parma FC.
Catania gave a strong performance with Gonzalo Bergessio twice coming close in the first half. The Argentinian striker fired narrowly wide after springing the offside trap on three minutes and then headed Marco Motta's cross just over the bar. Alejandro Gómez came even closer when rattling the crossbar from distance after dispossessing Daniele Bonera.
By then, however, Robinho had given the Rossoneri the lead. The Brazilian international curled in a fine shot after a one-two with Zlatan Ibrahimović on 34 minutes. The hosts persisted, however, and equalised when Nicolás Spolli finished off Nicola Legrottaglie's knock-down 12 minutes after the interval. Milan, who travel to FC Barcelona on Tuesday for their UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg, are five points clear of Juventus, who host SSC Napoli on Sunday.
Parma dented S.S. Lazio's hopes of holding on to third place by winning 3-1 in the late fixture. Former Biancocelesti striker Sergio Floccari scored twice after McDonald Mariga had given the hosts a fifth-minute lead. Lazio can be caught if Napoli and/or Udinese Calcio win on Sunday.