AS Roma 1-2 AC Milan: Ibrahimovic scores as ten-man visitors extend unbeaten run in the league

Zlatan Ibrahimovic-AC Milan

AC Milan defeated AS Roma on Sunday night to extend their unbeaten start in the Serie A to eleven games and condemn Mourinho’s side to their third defeat in the last five competitive games. 

Goals from veteran striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic and midfielder Franck Kessie was enough to seal the win for the visitors, who played with ten men for about half an hour after Theo Hernadez was sent off for Milan.

Jose Mourinho‘s side started the game brightly and could have gone ahead in the third minute when an opportunity fell to Pellegrini in the box. But the midfielder could only shoot wide from a good position. 

The miss set the tone for the game as both teams continued to have a go at each other early on without any real attempts at goal.

However, Milan broke the deadlock in the 25th minute through Ibrahimovic, who produced an unbelievable piece of skill from a free-kick to open the scoring for the home team. The goal was the Swede’s 400th league goal in his career and was enough to keep Milan ahead going into the break.

Shortly after the break, the visitors doubled their lead through Franck Kessie. The Milan captain made it 2-0 in the 57th minute from the penalty spot after Ibanez had fouled Hernadez in the box. 

However, moments after winning the penalty, Hernadez was shown a second yellow card for a clumsy challenge on Pellegrini, reducing Milan to ten men and giving the advantage to AS Roma.

With the visitors down to ten men, Roma sought to make their numerical advantage count but could only get a 93rd-minute consolation goal through El Shaaraway.

First home defeat for Jose Mourinho 

For the first time in Serie A, Jose Mourinho lost a home game. 

The Portuguese went into the game unbeaten 43 home games in the Italian top flight- an unbeaten run that started in his first spell at Inter Milan and continued into his Roma spell. 

The unbeaten streak was also a record in Serie A and proved that the ‘Special One’ was truly special.

However, that record has now been broken by Milan, who broke the record with the help of one of Mourinho’s former players; Ibrahimovic.

Ibrahimovic continues to shine at 40 

The big Swede played for Mourinho when he was in his 20’s and was considered one of the best strikers at that time.

However, over ten years later and at 40 years, Ibrahimovic continues to shine. The striker took his 400th career goal in the domestic league with aplomb and was a constant threat to the Roma backline throughout the game. 

After missing out on the title run-in last season Stefano Pioli will be hoping that Ibrahimovic will be able to keep fit and lead Milan to their first Scudetto since the 2011/12 season when the striker scored 28 league goals.

Milan continue unbeaten start to the league 

While Roma are capitulating in the league, Milan are continuing to shine. The San Siro side are unbeaten in the Serie A and have now won ten out of their opening eleven games.

They are currently second on the league standings, one point behind Napoli. 

Despite the various injury problems they are facing, Pioli’s men are continuing to churn out wins. They will now hope they can replicate their league form in the Champions League where they face FC Porto on Wednesday having lost all three of their opening group games.