KESSIE PENALTY ENOUGH TO BEAT LAZIO

The noise that greeted the final whistle at San Siro was enough to sum up how important this win was for AC Milan. It was a crucial 1-0 victory over Lazio in the race for Champions League football and the Diavolo can approach the final run-in in the knowledge that everything is in place for us to meet our objective. Heart, determination, commitment… and tactical awareness. The game changed halfway through the second half when Gennaro Gattuso switched things up, moving from a 4-3-3 formation to a 3-4-2-1. It was a change that worked and perhaps the key one behind the win. From that moment on, Lazio stopped causing serious problems and the Rossoneri struck with a penalty from the ice-cool Kessie. The results sends Milan fourth on 55 points and gives out an important signal to the rest of the league. The team is capable, believes and doesn't give up when the opposition is strong as Lazio were tonight. Now, it's time to enjoy the three points but focus turns tomorrow to the next match away in Parma.

SEE THE BEST PHOTOS FROM AC MILAN v LAZIO

REPORT

Rino Gattuso stuck with the side that faced Juve a week ago, with a front three of Borini, Suso and Piatek. Lazio had the first big chance early on when Immobile struck with his right after being set up by Correa but Reina responded with a magnificent save. The tempo was high in the opening exchanges. In the 21st minute, Lazio were dangerous again with Immobile playing the ball inside for Correa who fired over from a great position. 30 minutes in, the first chance fell for Milan. Borini played in a low cross, Piatek laid it off for Suso who fired over. It was the Rossoneri's best spell of the half as they continued to apply more pressure. Piatek went close to breaking the deadlock in the 32nd minute with a header that went just wide. In the 42nd minute, a rocket of a shot from Calhanoglu was turned behind by Strakosha. Lazio regrouped and soon after, Immobile hit the post. The sides went back down in the tunnel with the score goalless. In the 67th minute, Gattuso had to make do without Romagnoli and Calabria with Zapata and Laxalt replacing them and there was a formation change with the team switching to a 3-4-2-1. The key moment followed soon after. Musacchio was brought down in the box by Durmisi and Rocchi pointed to the spot. Kessie was ice-cool from 12 yards to fire Milan into the lead. The finale was a pulsating affair with Lazio desperately throwing themselves forward while the Diavolo looked to score a second with Suso's left-foot effort well saved by Strakosha and that was the final chance of the match. 

MATCH SUMMARY

AC MILAN 1-0 LAZIO

AC MILAN (4-3-3): Reina; Calabria (67' Laxalt), Musacchio, Romagnoli (68' Zapata), Rodriguez; Kessie, Bakayoko, Calhanoglu; Suso, Piatek (84' Cutrone), Borini. Subs.: Donnarumma A., Plizzari, Abate, Caldara, Conti, Strinic, Bertolacci, Biglia, Castillejo. Coach: Gattuso.

LAZIO (3-5-2): Strakosha; Luiz Felipe, Acerbi, Bastos (81' Parolo); Romulo, Milinkovic, Leiva, Luis Alberto, Lulic; Correa (48' Caicedo), Immobile. Subs.: Proto, Guerrieri, Patric, Wallace, Silva, Cataldi, Durmisi, Jordao, Neto. Coach: Inzaghi.

Referee: Gianluca Rocchi from Florence.
Goals: 79' pen. Kessie (M).
Booked: 9' Romulo (L), 85' Luis Alberto (L), 95' Zapata (M).

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