Milan: Unbeaten Juventus snatched a late goal to draw 1-1 at AC Milan in Serie A`s top of the table clash on Saturday after the hosts had a goal disallowed when officials failed to spot the ball had crossed the line.
Antonio Nocerino gave Milan a 14th minute lead and Sulley Muntari appeared to head the second goal soon after, TV replays clearly showing the ball had gone over the line before keeper Gianluigi Buffon clawed it away, but play was waved on.
Juve made the most of their escape and salvaged a point with seven minutes to go when substitute Alessandro Matri smashed in a right-foot volley from close range, just after he had a goal disallowed in another refereeing controversy.
Leaders Milan stayed one point clear at the top, with 51 points from 25 matches. Juve, who had Arturo Vidal sent off after 89 minutes, have a game in hand.
Juve have gone 27 league and cup matches this season without defeat and had already beaten Milan once in each competition.
"There`s no sadness, we played a good match," Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri told the club`s website (www.acmilan.com). "The `goal` would have damaged them and it would have been a different game."
Opposite number Antonio Conte told Sky Sports Italia: "I can say that two good goals were disallowed. I don`t think Matri`s counts for less."
Argentine striker Rodrigo Palacio scored twice in the last 18 minutes to give 10th-placed Genoa a 2-2 draw at home to Parma, who are 13th, in Saturday`s other game.
Massimo Gobbi and Sergio Floccari netted early in each half for the visitors.
Udinese, eight points behind Juve in third spot, visit Bologna on Sunday (1945) when the highlight is troubled Inter Milan`s trip to a Napoli side buoyed by a midweek 3-1 Champions League win over Chelsea.
Milan dominated the first half despite the absence of top scorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who was serving the third game of a three-match ban, while Juve took control in the second period in an open contest full of dramatic twists.
GIFT GOAL
Juve, with playmaker Andrea Pirlo disappointing against the club where he spent 10 seasons, had trouble passing their way out of defence throughout the first half and gifted Milan their goal.
Leonardo Bonucci sent the ball straight to Urby Emanuelson and the Dutchman quickly fed Nocerino who scored with a 25-metre shot which deflected in off the hapless Bonucci.
The turning point came soon after when Philippe Mexes met Emanuelson`s cross with a powerful header that Buffon parried straight to Muntari.
The Ghanaian`s header clearly crossed the line before being pushed away by the keeper but, while Milan`s players celebrated, the referee waved play on amid general bewilderment.
"I`m going to be honest, we were let off in that situation but it went the other way in the second half. The game should have ended 2-2," Buffon told Juve`s website (www.juventus.com).
Juve broke away immediately after the incident and nearly stole an equaliser when Marcelo Estigarribia`s shot was turned away by Christian Abbiati.
Milan forward Robinho was in inspired form, showing the dribbling ability and trickery which earned him the nickname the King of the Stepovers in his native Brazil, and forced Buffon to dive at his feet to prevent a second goal.
Juve forwards Matri, Mirko Vucinic and Simone Pepe, surprisingly left on the bench by Conte, all came on after the break and the game changed completely.
Abbiati made a brilliant stop to deny Fabio Quagliarella at point-blank range before Matri had a goal disallowed.
Replays showed he was in line with the last defender when he received a pass before slotting the ball into the net.
Matri eventually got on the scoresheet when he converted Pepe`s inswinging cross, exhausted Milan players dropping to their knees in disbelief.
Bureau Report
First Published: Sunday, February 26, 2012, 09:47