Hellas Verona 2 - 1 AC Milan: Luca Siligardi keeps Hellas Verona alive in Serie A

Posted Tuesday, April 26, 2016 by PA

Luca Siligardi's last-gasp free-kick earned Hellas Verona a stay of execution in Serie A as AC Milan were stunned 2-1 at the Stadio Marc'Antonio Bentegodi.

Jeremy Menez's 21st-minute opener for Europa League-chasing Milan pushed Verona closer towards the relegation trapdoor but Giampaolo Pazzini sparked hope with a second-half penalty.

Basement boys Hellas continued turning the screw and got their reward when former Inter Milan midfielder Siligardi found the target with his left boot in the fourth minute of stoppage time.

Verona knew anything but a win would seal their fate and they pushed hard in the early exchanges, with Pazzini forcing a fine save from Gianluigi Donnarumma.

But it would be Milan who scored the opener. Menez, whose previous league strike arrived back in April 2015, opened his account for the current season by converting Keisuke Honda's spilled shot.

Hellas were handed a lifeline in the 72nd minute when Alessio Romagnoli handled the ball in the Milan box, and former Rossoneri striker Pazzini stepped up to convert the spot-kick.

Pazzini could have turned the game on its head moments later but this time Donnarumma intervened.

Despite their impending demotion Verona found enough spirit to dominate the last knockings and Donnarumma once again had to pounce to spare Milan's blushes, this time against Juanito Gomez.

Honda's handball not far from the D gave Hellas one last shot at securing an unlikely win and they took it, Siligardi steering home a superb free-kick that clattered off the crossbar on its way in.