Rare AC Milan win damages Roma's Champions League hopes

Updated: May 17, 2023, 06:17 am
On the books at Roma, Mattia Destro's winner dealt a blow to the capital club's UCL dreams.
Marco Luzzani/Getty Images

AC Milan picked up their first win in more than a month to deal Roma's Champions League qualification hopes a blow at the San Siro with a 2-1 victory.

Marco van Ginkel's first goal in Italian football gave the Rossoneri the lead before Mattia Destro, on loan at Milan from Roma, scored against his employers to double the hosts' lead.

Francesco Totti pulled one back from the penalty spot, but the Giallorossi could not find an equaliser as they missed an opportunity to consolidate second spot, allowing city rivals Lazio the opportunity to overtake them and Napoli to close to within two points on Sunday.

Kostas Manolas rattled the post in the 17th minute with Davide Astori putting the rebound into the side-netting.

The rest of the first half belonged to Milan, though, and after Giacomo Bonaventura went close with a header, they took the lead with Van Ginkel netting his first goal since moving to Milan on loan from Chelsea last summer.

Keisuke Honda was the provider for the Dutchman, who got in front of Radja Nainggolan before beating Morgan De Sanctis.

Milan added to their lead just before the hour mark when the on-loan Destro netted with a determined header.

The way he celebrated suggested he has no intention of returning to the capital in the summer, even if Milan may not be able to match their asking price for the Italy international.

Everything seemed to be going according to plan until Juan Iturbe's path to goal was blocked by both Alex and Nigel De Jong.

The referee pointed to the penalty spot and Totti, with a bit of luck, slotted the ball under Diego Lopez.

It was game on again and Iturbe tested Lopez with a shot which the Milan goalkeeper did well to turn behind.

Filippo Inzaghi's men withstood the late pressure well to pick up a win which revives their slim hopes of qualifying for Europe next season while denting Roma's bid to finish second.