Marco Borriello came back to haunt former club Milan last night, scoring the only goal of the game as Roma blew the Serie A title race wide open.
Borriello struck 21 minutes from time with a lucky goal he knew next to nothing about but that won’t have worried the 28-year-old who was ditched by Milan in favour of big-money signing Zlatan Ibrahimovic at the start of the season.
Victory was vital for Claudio Ranieri’s team who would have fallen 13 points off the leaders had they lost.
Instead they are now just seven points behind Milan whose lead will be cut to three points should either Juventus, Napoli or Lazio win today.
Given the high stakes it was perhaps unsurprising that the match was a largely cagey affair.
The first half in particular featured almost no attacking from Roma who seemed content to simply defend the edge of their box.
Even so, Milan struggled to create much. Just five minutes in Robinho was released down the left by Andrea Pirlo and after twisting and teasing Philippe Mexes he dummied the Frenchman, leaving him on the seat of his pants, and cut inside but stabbed a weak shot wide.
Pirlo lasted barely half the first period before being replaced by Clarence Seedorf who shot straight at goalkeeper Doni from a good position.
On the half hour Kevin-Prince Boateng beat John Arne Riise down the right and hit an inviting cross into the box which Nicolas Burdisso thumped clear.
Roma had a pair of half chances but Jeremy Menez twice blazed wildly off target.
Ibrahimovic, who had a game to forget, should have done better on 35 minutes when he beat the offside trap but he got the ball caught in his feet and then flicked a pathetic chip straight into Doni’s arms.
There was little action after the break apart from Seedorf lashing a shot high and wide until Roma took a surprise lead.
Menez was the architect as he burst to the byline down the right and hit a dangerous cross which full-back Ignazio Abate, in trying to clear his lines, succeeded only in thumping off Borriello’s shins and into the net.
That was soon followed by two more gilt-edged chances for Ibrahimovic who twice beat the offside trap again – although both times looking suspiciously offside – only to lift two shots over the bar with only Doni to beat.
Roma by now, though, were far more involved in the game and Daniele De Rossi hit a stunning dipping volley from 30 yards that Christian Abbiati had to tip over.
Milan started to push late on and Boateng blasted a shot wide and substitute Ronaldinho volleyed over with an acrobatic effort.
Serie A
Cesena 1
Jimenez 17;
Cagliari 0
HT: 1-0. Att: 12,581.
Milan 0
Roma 1
Borriello 69;
HT: 0-0. Att: 45,000;
Playing today – 15.00
Bari vs Palermo
Catania vs Brescia
Chievo vs Juventus
Lazio vs Udinese - 12.30
Napoli vs Lecce
Parma vs Bologna
Sampdoria vs Genoa - 20.45
Top scorers
10 goals: Di Natale (Udinese)
9 goals: Eto’o (Inter); Ibrahimovic (Milan); Cavani (Napoli), Di Vaio (Bologna);
8 goals: Matri (Cagliari); Quagliarella (Juventus);
Next fixtures
Thursday, Jan. 6: 12.30 Juventus vs Parma. 15.00 Bologna vs Fiorentina; Brescia vs Cesena; Cagliari vs Milan; Genoa vs Lazio; Lecce vs Bari; Palermo vs Sampdoria; Roma vs Catania; Udinese vs Chievo. 20.45 Inter vs Napoli.
Serie B
Ascoli 2 - Reggina 1
Cittadella 0 - Atalanta 1
Grosseto 2 - Crotone 2
Livorno p - Padova p
Portogruaro 1 - Modena 1
Sassuolo 5 - Frosinone 3
Torino 2 - Empoli 1
Varese 1 - Siena 0
Vicenza 2 - Triestina 0
Tomorrow – 20.45
AlbinoLeffe vs Piacenza
Standings: Novara 42; Atalanta 39; Siena 37; Varese 35; Torino 32; Reggina, Livorno 31; Vicenza 29; Pescara 28; Padova 27; Empoli 25; Crotone 24; Cittadella 23; AlbinoLeffe, Grosseto 22; Modena 21; Sassuolo, Ascoli 20; Frosinone 19; Portogruaro 18; Piacenza, Triestina 17.