Fiorentina 0-0 Milan: Drama despite stalemate in Florence

By Oliver Fisher -

AC Milan and Fiorentina played out a goalless draw at the Stadio Artemio Franchi, but the match wasn’t without drama.

Josip Ilicic missed a decisive first half penalty for La Viola, while Milan appealed for a penalty of their own in the 95th minute.

In a cauldron of noise at the Franchi, Josip Ilicic had the first half chance as he was given time and space to shoot from 25 yards, but he failed to find the target, bending an effort wide of the far post.

In the 16th minute there was a moment of controversy as Gabriel Paletta appeared to have arms around Nikola Kalinic as a Fiorentina corner came in, but referee Daniele Orsato waved away appeals.

M’Baye Niang had two chances inside a minute two minutes after, as first of all the Frenchman blasted a second ball over the bar, before again running at his man and skewing a shot well wide.

La Viola were awarded a penalty when Davide Calabria hauled down Borja Valero after Kalinic had miss-hit a Federico Bernardeschi shot into his path.

However, the Slovenian – who scored all seven of his penalties last season – failed to capitalise as he hit the post after Donnarumma had guessed the right way.

Milan’s last half-chance came just over 10 minutes before the break as Carlos Bacca attempted to back-heel a low cross in at the near post from close range, but the Colombian failed to connect and the ball was cleared.

Bacca had two chances early in the second half; the first a goal mouth scramble in the 51st minute that he couldn’t quite reach, the second resulting from a Montolivo through ball from which the former Sevilla man had his shot blocked.

In the 63rd minute, Giacomo Bonaventura did well to evade challenges inside the area before the ball found Suso, whose shot was heroically blocked to save a certain goal.

As chances diminished it was Bacca again who had a chance to steal three points as he lunged acrobatically to turn a loose ball goalwards, however the ball landed just wide of the far post.

The game was not to finish without a final moment of controversy, as the referee again waved away penalty pleas, this time Luiz Adriano was wiped out on a break in the final minute of added time. On replay, it appeared it was a foul and a probably red card, but the contact initiated outside the box.

Another clean sheet and a valuable point in a not-so-happy hunting ground for the Rossoneri, while the hosts will be left to rue a missed spot kick.

Tags AC Milan Bacca Fiorentina Italy Mercato Milan News Rossoneri Serie A
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