Paolo Maldini’s final match in front of the San Siro crowd ended in disappointment as AS Roma stunned AC Milan 3-2 on Sunday.
Maldini was making his last appearance in the red and black Milan shirt in front of his home fans, but Francesco Totti’s late free-kick pooped the party for the 40-year-old veteran, who made his debut for the club in 1985 as a 16-year-old.
Despite Massimo Ambrosini’s brace in the final quarter of an hour, Roma snatched a vital three points that secured them a place in next season’s Europa League.
PHOTO: AFP
The result didn’t do anything to stop Milan’s fans paying homage to a player who has graced the San Siro pitch for 24 years.
Nobody left the stadium as Maldini performed a lap of honor to rousing applause, although a small minority spoiled the atmosphere by chanting slogans against Maldini.
Even so, coach Carlo Ancelotti, who may too leave Milan at the end of the season, said it did nothing to detract from the generally generous reception the club captain received.
“A small minority protested against certain things he did. It was a drop in an ocean full of affection and passion, hence insignificant,” Ancelotti said, before deflecting talk of his own future. “Today there’s no reason to talk about that because we’re still playing [there’s one more match to play]. We have a week to prepare well. Hence, we will talk about all this after Florence [Milan’s last game is away to Fiorentina].”
The hosts had the first clear chance of the game just before the half-hour mark when Pato was sent clean through down the inside left channel. He opened up his body and brought the ball back onto his right foot to try to curl the ball around Roma goalkeeper Artur, but the Brazilian got the slightest touch to deflect it wide.
That save proved crucial seven minutes later when Norway fullback John Arne Riise lashed home a vicious shot after David Pizarro rolled a free-kick into his path.
Roma should have gone into the break two up, but Montenegro forward Mirko Vucinic wasted a glorious opportunity in the last minute, rushing his volleyed shot from 16m after Riise’s deflected effort dropped into his path.
Milan upped their tempo after the break, with substitutes Clarence Seedorf and Ronaldinho bringing them some much-needed energy and invention.
On 68 minutes Kaka forced Artur into a fingertip save and then moments later Ronaldinho produced some magic on the left before teeing up Ambrosini, but the midfielder couldn’t get any power behind his header.
Soon after that the game exploded into life with Ambrosini to the fore.
On 75 minutes Artur saved Filippo Inzaghi’s shot from Kaka’s cross and Ambrosini swept home the loose ball. Just five minutes later, Roma were back in front as Jeremy Menez twisted and turned in the area before shooting across Dida into the far corner.
That lead lasted only a minute as Ambrosini was left unmarked at the back post to turn home Kaka’s cross. Yet back came Roma again and they took the lead for the third time when captain Francesco Totti thumped home a free-kick with five minutes to play.
In other games, champions Inter were beaten 2-1 at Cagliari, while Juventus won for the first time in eight matches, 3-0 at Siena.
Lecce will join already-relegated Reggina in Serie B next season after Martin Jorgensen’s last-minute equalizer for Fiorentina earned them a 1-1 draw.
Chievo secured their survival with a 0-0 draw against Bologna, who will have to wait until next weekend to see if they stay up.
Either they or Torino, beaten 3-2 at home by Genoa, will go down.
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