Milan stalemate edges Napoli closer to ‘CL’

Flamini goes from hero to zero

ROME, April 15, (AFP): AC Milan’s Mathieu Flamini went from hero to zero as he first scored and was then sent off in the Rossoneri’s 1-1 draw at home to Champions League rivals Napoli.

Flamini opened the scoring with his second goal of the season on the half-hour, but Goran Pandev brought the visitors level in the 33rd minute.

The Frenchman then preceded to get himself sent off in the second half.

The 1-1 draw means Milan have just six matches to make up a four point gap on second placed Napoli if they are to achieve automatic Champions League qualification for next season.

The home side looked more lively in the opening period and created their first real opportunity after 10 minutes.

Napoli goalkeeper Morgan De Sanctis clumsily parried a Kevin-Prince Boateng shot across goal but there was no-one following up for what would have been a tap-in into an empty net.

Cristian Zapata headed over from a corner not long after, before Boateng poked a Kevin Constant cross from the left just wide of the far post.

The game sprang to life when Flamini struck from outside the area. The 29year-old took advantage of some wonderful one touch football from Robinho and Giampaolo Pazzini to sidefoot past the outstretched De Sanctis into the bottom right corner.

However, the Rossoneri’s lead lasted barely three minutes as Pandev found himself unmarked in the Milan penalty area and smashed a low Marek Hamsik cross past the helpless Christian Abbiati.

Abbiati was called into action just before the break when he fingertipped an Edinson Cavani lob, destined for the back of the net, out of harms way.

Milan continued to probe the Partenopei defence in the second half, but clear cut chances were few and far between.

Then a rash challenge by Flamini on Juan Zuniga heightened tensions between the two sides and the Milan midfielder was subsequently given his marching orders in the 72nd minute.

Napoli, though, didn’t make the most of their man advantage. In fact, it was the home side who looked the more dangerous.

In the final moments, Lorenzo Insigne did have the chance to steal all three points for Napoli but his header from a Cavani cross went just wide.

Juventus 31 22 5 4 61 20 71 Napoli 32 18 9 5 58 30 63 AC Milan 32 17 8 7 56 35 59 Fiorentina 32 16 7 9 58 39 55 Roma 32 15 6 11 63 53 51 Lazio 31 15 6 10 40 37 51 Inter 32 15 5 12 50 45 50 Udinese 32 12 12 8 44 39 48 Catania 32 13 8 11 40 38 47 Cagliari 3 AC Milan’s French defender Mathieu Flamini celebrates after scoring during the Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Napoli at the San Siro Stadium in Milan, Italy, on April 14. (AP)