Teenage Brazilian star Pato fired a late winner in a 1-0 victory at Fiorentina on Sunday to boost AC Milan's hopes of qualifying for next season's Champions League.
The victory moved the reigning European champions up to fifth in the table, just four points behind the Viola in fourth, and with a game in hand.
City rivals Inter Milan, however, stayed on course to retain their title after a 1-0 win over Empoli allowed them to open up an eight-point gap at the top.
PHOTO: AFP
Second-placed Roma slumped to a miserable 3-0 defeat at lively Siena to undo all the good work they managed last weekend in cutting the gap at the top from seven to five points.
Despite the victory, Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti is worried about his attacking resources as Pato injured ankle ligaments and faces a spell on the sidelines while Alberto Gilardino will be suspended next week.
"Now we have an attacking emergency, Gilardino and Pato won't play next Sunday. We hope to get Ronaldo and [Filippo] Inzaghi back," Ancelotti said.
PHOTO: AFP
Milan almost had a dream start when Fiorentina defender Manuel Pasquale crashed the ball against his own bar when trying to clear Gilardino's chipped finish off the line.
Fiorentina's Romania forward Adrian Mutu missed a double chance on the quarter-hour mark, hitting the woodwork with his first effort before Australian goalkeeper Zeljko Kalac saved his follow-up.
Giampaolo Pazzini was the next to come within a whisker of scoring but following some classy control on his chest he lashed his volley just past the far post. But Pato sealed the three points 13 minutes from time when he latched onto Kaka's pass, turned his marker and shot home left-footed.
And deep into stoppage time Kalac made a wonder save from Alessandro Gamberini's close-range header to ensure the victory.
Inter Milan were once again the beneficiaries of a controversial penalty, just they were two weeks ago in a 3-2 win over Parma.
Julio Cruz lashed a left-foot shot at goal that struck Ighli Vannucchi in the side of the head and then may have glanced off his hand in the box, although even television replays could not show clearly one way or the other.
But the referee pointed to the spot and Sweden forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic fired home the penalty on 34 minutes. Even Inter boss Roberto Mancini admitted it was not a penalty.
Roma suffered a nightmare in Siena, where they fell behind after only 11 minutes when Simone Vergassola fired home a rebound off Roma's Brazilian goalkeeper Doni.
Siena went two in front just before the break when Doni parried Paolo De Ceglie's fierce shot from the left only to see it ricochet off defenders Philippe Mexes and then Max Tonetto and into the net.
Liechenstein striker Mario Frick added a late third.
In Turin, third-placed Juventus were held to a 1-1 draw by rock-bottom Cagliari. The visitors took the lead on 55 minutes when Paolo Bianco headed home a Daniele Conti corner.
But right from the restart Czech veteran Pavel Nedved fired home from long range to earn Juve a third straight draw in the league that once again has hit their faint title hopes as they slip to 12 points off Inter.
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