Luca Antonelli goal hands AC Milan victory over Torino

Updated: May 17, 2023, 06:03 am
AC Milan celebrate after Luca Antonelli's goal on the stroke of half-time.
AP Photo/Luca Bruno

AC Milan closed to within a point of city rivals Inter in Serie A after defender Luca Antonelli's goal was enough to see off Torino at the San Siro.

Antonelli scored in the last minute of the first half to make it five wins and four draws from the last nine games for Sinisa Mihajlovic's side, who had to weather some early pressure from the visitors.

Ciro Immobile's shot from a narrow angle brought a good save from Gianluigi Donnarumma after 14 minutes and Donnarumma was called into action again five minutes later to keep out a header from Kamil Glik.

Milan eventually came to life as the half wore on and Keisuke Honda was unlucky to see his 26th-minute free-kick smash onto the crossbar with Torino goalkeeper Daniele Padelli well beaten.

Padelli then saved from Giacomo Bonaventura but there was nothing he could do just before the interval when Juraj Kucka headed down from a corner and Antonelli was first to react, swivelling to fire home left-footed from the edge of the six-yard box.

The visitors produced the first attempt on goal in the second period but Donnarumma got down well to save a shot from Bruno Peres, while at the other end Bonaventura flashed a right-footed shot just wide.

Antonelli then headed wide from Bonaventura's cross before Immobile's well-struck volley brought an excellent save from Donnarumma in the 72nd minute.

The visitors struggled to create any further clear-cut chances and their hopes of a point effectively ended when Andrea Belotti's long-range effort was dragged wide of the post.