AC Milan 2 : 1 AS Roma - Ibrahimovic double stretches Milan lead

Posted Saturday, March 24, 2012 by PA

Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored both gaols as AC Milan kept up their pursuit of the Serie A title with a narrow 2-1 win over a plucky Roma at the San Siro.

The Swedish striker scored a penalty and then added a late headed goal as the league leaders also put a dent in the Europa League hopes of the visitors.

But Milan, who now lead Juventus by seven points in the table, had looked on course to pay for a string of misses in the first half as Pablo Osvaldo gave the visitors the lead just before half-time.

Lifted by that goal Roma were more in the game after the interval, but were finally beaten when Ibrahimovic completed his double.

Urby Emanuelson had the first chance after eight minutes but his effort was saved by Roma goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg.

Ibrahimovic had two openings, but missed with the first and then saw Stekelenburg make a comfortable save from the second.

Milan's Sulley Muntari brought another save out of Stekelenburg before Stephan El Shaarawy shot narrowly past the post.

Emanuelson shot just past the other post, Muntari fired over the bar and Ibrahimovic also shot wide as Milan continued to waste chances.

Ibrahimovic saw a header saved by Stekelenburg before Roma had their first chance which Fabio Borini hit off target.

El Shaarawy hit the post with a shot from outside the box before Ibrahimovic's close range effort was well saved by the Roma keeper.

In a rare Roma attack a cross from Aleandro Rosi was headed narrowly off target by Osvaldo.

But a minute before the break Osvaldo's shot from close range opened the scoring following a pass by Daniele De Rossi.

Roma opened the second half with two chances which saw Francesco Totti shoot high over the bar before Marquinho brought a save out of Christian Abbiati.

Milan were level after 53 minutes when De Rossi was penalised for handball and Ibrahimovic scored from the penalty spot.

Ibrahimovic nearly put Milan in front with a free-kick which he fired just over and then Stekelenburg touched Muntari's shot on to the bar.

Roma hit back, but Osvaldo headed over from a Miralem Pjanic cross and then Pjanic's shot brought a save out of Abbiati.

Milan finally netted the winner with seven minutes remaining as Ibrahimovic headed home from close range from a Muntari cross.