AC Milan's players celebrate after winning a Serie A football match between FC Inter and AC Milan in Milan, Italy, on Feb. 5, 2022. (Photo by Alberto Lingria/Xinhua)
ROME, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- Inter Milan dominated the first half but fell to pieces after the break, as Olivier Giroud's quick-double inspired AC Milan to come from behind to beat the city-rival 2-1 on Saturday, winning the highly-anticipated Derby della Madonnina.
Inter Milan entered into San Siro with a considerable advantage on the table, while AC Milan ranked third with four points behind.
AC Milan had to play without talisman Zlatan Ibrahimovic, but had Franck Kessie and Ismael Bennacer back from the Africa Cup of Nations, while Inter Milan opted for Edin Dzeko and Lautaro Martinez on the forward-line.
Inter was more aggressive as Denzel Dumfries found the back of the net in the 10th minute but it was canceled out due to Ivan Perisic's offside position in the build-up before Mike Maignan made a cat-like save to deny Marcelo Brozovic's deflected strike.
Maignan made another stunning save when he got down well to parry Dumfries's strike from a close range, while at the other end Sandro Tonali forced a one-handed save out of Samir Handanovic.
The home side eventually went ahead in the 38th minute when Hakan Calhanoglu's corner found unmarked Perisic to cushion a volley into the net.
Inter should have made it 2-0 before the interval, as Brozovic started the move from his own half, but Maignan rushed out to make a sliding tackle on Calhanoglu.
In a desperate bid for a victory, the Rossoneri threw on Junior Messias and Brahim Diaz in the second half. It worked in the 74th minute when Inter was caught napping in the midfield, Diaz's deflected shot turned into an assist for Giroud to slide in.
The Diavolo quickly rode the momentum to turn around the game four minutes later when Giroud collected from Davide Calabria, spinning around to shake off Stefan de Vrij's defense, before hitting in a left-footed strike.
AC Milan was one player down in the last minute when Theo Hernandez had a nasty foul on Dumfries, but it held on to keep the precious victory.
Despite the defeat, Inter Milan still leads the table on 53 points with a game in hand, AC Milan ranks second with 52 points, three ahead of Napoli who visits Venezia on Sunday.
Also on Saturday, Roma almost broke 10-man Genoa in the dying minute, but only snatched a goalless tie on home turf. Nicolo Zaniolo thought he had scored the winner after a mazy run in the stoppage time, but it was ruled out after VAR check, the starlet was then sent off for dissent.
Elsewhere, Lazio sailed away with a 3-0 victory against Fiorentina. ■
AC Milan's Olivier Giroud scores his first goal during a Serie A football match between FC Inter and AC Milan in Milan, Italy, on Feb. 5, 2022. (Photo by Alberto Lingria/Xinhua)
AC Milan's Olivier Giroud (C front) celebrates scoring with his teammates during a Serie A football match between FC Inter and AC Milan in Milan, Italy, on Feb. 5, 2022. (Photo by Alberto Lingria/Xinhua)
FC Inter's Ivan Perisic scores his goal during a Serie A football match between FC Inter and AC Milan in Milan, Italy, on Feb. 5, 2022. (Photo by Alberto Lingria/Xinhua)
AC Milan's Olivier Giroud celebrates scoring during a Serie A football match between FC Inter and AC Milan in Milan, Italy, on Feb. 5, 2022. (Photo by Alberto Lingria/Xinhua)
AC Milan's head coach Stefano Pioli (C) celebrates at the end of a Serie A football match between FC Inter and AC Milan in Milan, Italy, on Feb. 5, 2022. (Photo by Alberto Lingria/Xinhua)
AC Milan's Theo Hernandez (R) vies with FC Inter's Denzel Dumfries during a Serie A football match between FC Inter and AC Milan in Milan, Italy, on Feb. 5, 2022. (Photo by Alberto Lingria/Xinhua)
AC Milan's Brahim Diaz (R) vies with FC Inter's Hakan Calhanoglu during a Serie A football match between FC Inter and AC Milan in Milan, Italy, on Feb. 5, 2022. (Photo by Alberto Lingria/Xinhua)
AC Milan's Olivier Giroud (R) celebrates scoring with his teammate Theo Hernandez during a Serie A football match between FC Inter and AC Milan in Milan, Italy, on Feb. 5, 2022. (Photo by Alberto Lingria/Xinhua)
AC Milan's players celebrate scoring during a Serie A football match between FC Inter and AC Milan in Milan, Italy, on Feb. 5, 2022. (Photo by Alberto Lingria/Xinhua)
