Roma 1 AC Milan 2: Ibrahimovic brings up 400 league goals
Roma 1 AC Milan 2: Ibrahimovic brings up 400 league goals as Tomori exacts revenge on ex-Chelsea team-mate Abraham
As ten-man AC Milan defeated Roma 2-1, FIKAYO TOMORI overcame out best pal Tammy Abraham in the duel of the Chelsea grads.
Both England internationals left Stamford Bridge on permanent contracts in the summer, with Tomori avenging his former teammate and best friend.
The last time the two met was in the Championship Play-off final between Aston Villa and Derby in 2019.
Both players were on season-long loan spells away from West London, with Abraham starting for the Villans and Tomori for the Rams.
And it was Abraham who came out on top in that one, but Tomori had the last laugh in the Eternal City, as his Milan side overwhelmed Jose Mourinho’s men.
At the age of 40, veteran centre-forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored his 400th league goal with a free-kick in the 25th minute.
Before getting punished for his overzealous celebration, the ex-Manchester United marksman rifled his effort through the wall and into the bottom right corner.
Rafael Leao appeared to have increased the visitors’ lead right before the break, but the goal was ruled out.
Ibrahimovic was adjudged to have been offside when he flicked the ball into the path of the ex-Lille player.
In the 50th minute, the Swedish superstar was called offside once more after skillfully tucking the ball into the bottom left corner.
He raced onto Simon Kjaer’s lofted pass, controlling it into his chest and sliding his half-volley into the back of the net – but he was offside.
The massive Swede didn’t take long to leave more fingerprints on the match.
Ibrahimovic was fouled inside the box three minutes later by Roger Ibanez, who appeared to have gotten some of the ball when sliding in.
The referee decided against altering his decision after a lengthy VAR review, with Franck Kessie converting the spot-kick.
Ibra was substituted by Tomori and Abraham’s old Blues team-mate Olivier Giroud just before the hour mark, and it was to be his final appearance.
The drama didn’t end there: in the 66th minute, Milan left-back Theo Hernandez was sent off for getting his second yellow card.
Roma pressed for a late goal and were rewarded when Stephan El Shaarawy scored in injury time after putting them under a lot of strain.
Milan held on for the important three points, but it was too little, too late.
The result ties the Rossoneri for first place in Serie A on points with Napoli, but the Partenopei lead on goal difference.
Meanwhile, Roma are still in fourth place, with Mourinho’s side having lost two of their past four league games.
