MILAN: Theo Hernandez’s stoppage-time winner ensured AC Milan ended the year top of Serie A after beating Lazio 3-2 on Wednesday.

The Milan players all piled on top of Hernandez in joyful celebration after his late header. Milan had let slip a two-goal lead and seemed set to head into the winter break behind city rivals Inter Milan, who had won 2-1 at Hellas Verona earlier.

The Rossoneri instead go into the festive period a point above Inter and edging closer to ending their 10-year title drought as the last remaining unbeaten team across Europe’s top five leagues.

The two Milan clubs have surged ahead of their rivals, with AS Roma moving up to third, six points behind Inter, after a 3-2 win over Cagliari.

Napoli dropped from third to fifth, two points behind Roma, despite Lorenzo Insigne scoring late to rescue a 1-1 draw at home with rock-bottom Torino. Sassuolo, boosted by the return of Francesco Caputo, moved up fourth with a 3-2 win over Sampdoria.

Reigning champions Juventus are sixth — 10 points adrift of top spot — after crashing to their first Serie A defeat of the season, 3-0 at home against Fiorentina on Tuesday.

In seventh, Atalanta threw away a two-goal advantage after Luis Muriel scored twice within a minute midway through the first half, only to settle for a 2-2 draw at Bologna.

At the San Siro, Ante Rebic headed in the opener for Milan from a Hakan Calhanoglu corner on 10 minutes, with the Turkish midfielder adding a second from the penalty spot seven minutes later.

Milan goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma saved an Immobile penalty but Luis Alberto headed in the rebound.

But Lazio’s top scorer grabbed the equaliser before the hour mark, finishing off a Sergej Milinkovic-Savic cross for his ninth league goal of the campaign, only for Hernandez to head in a corner at the near post to spark scenes of wild celebration.

Goals from Lautaro Maritnez and Milan Skriniar helped Inter to their seventh successive league victory.

Martinez broke through in the 52nd minute, connecting with an Achraf Hakimi cross to volley in his sixth goal this season.

On-loan Manchester City midfielder Ivan Ilic pulled the hosts level on 63 minutes after Inter goalkeeper Samir Handanovic let a Davide Faraoni cross slip, with Milan Skriniar failing to stop the Serb tapping in his first Verona goal.

But Slovak Skriniar made up for his error six minutes later, getting his head to a Marcelo Brozovic cross to beat Verona ‘keeper Marco Silvestri.

In Rome, Jordan Veretout scored Roma’s opener on 11 minutes, with Edin Dzeko also on target in the second half before Gianluca Mancini’s header proved decisive with 13 minutes remaining. Joao Pedro scored both Cagliari goals, the second from the penalty spot in injury time.

Genoa won a relegation battle 2-1 at Spezia to inch to within a point of safety and Benevento beat Udinese 2-0.

Published in Dawn, December 25th, 2020