Ibrahimovic record goals not enough as AC Milan slumps to first loss

Zlatan Ibrahimovic became the oldest player to score multiple goals in a Serie A game, but his brace wasn’t enough to prevent AC Milan’s 4-3 defeat at Fiorentina.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic (left) celebrates after scoring against Fiorentina. Ibrahimovic’s two goals went in vain as AC Milan lost 4-3.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic became the oldest player to score multiple goals in a Serie A game, but his brace still wasn’t enough for AC Milan to win. Despite the Sweden star’s two goals at the age of 40 years and 48 days, the Rossoneri slumped to their first loss of the season with a 4-3 defeat at Fiorentina.

MATCH CENTRE

Dusan Vlahovic was the hero of the night, scoring twice for Fiorentina. With 27 goals in 2021, the Serbia striker equalled Kurt Hamrin’s record from 1960 as the player with the most Serie A goals for Fiorentina in a single calendar year. AC Milan remained in second place, level on points with Serie A leader Napoli, which visits defending champion Inter Milan on Sunday.

Earlier, midfielder Mario Pasalic scored twice and provided an assist as Atalanta rallied to rout Spezia 5-2.

Atalanta — which had failed to win its last three Italian league matches — moved level with third-place Inter in the Italian league, with 25 points from 13 games. Inter has one match in hand and a better goal difference.

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M’Bala Nzola put Spezia ahead in the 11th minute with the visiting team’s first shot of the match, slotting home from the rebound after Atalanta goalkeeper Juan Musso parried an effort from Daniele Verde off the crossbar. Atalanta replied with three first-half goals on its way to only its second win in seven home matches this season.

The first one came in the 18th when Pasalic levelled from close range following a breakthrough from Davide Zappacosta down the right. Duvan Zapata missed a penalty kick that had to be retaken due to penalty-box encroachment, and the striker did not miss his second chance with a perfectly taken shot to the top left corner in the 38th. Pasalic then made it 3-1 with a clean finish to conclude a fast counterattack led by Zapata.

Substitute Luis Muriel added his name to the scoresheet with seven minutes left with a left-footed volley from Pasalic’s cross and Ukraine international Ruslan Malinovskyi made the win even more emphatic in the 89th. Nzola scored a consolation goal in added time.

THE RESULTS 1. Atalanta 5-2 Spezia 2. Lazio 0-2 Juventus 3. Fiorentina 4-3 AC Milan.