Serie A: Rare Calhanoglu goal keeps Milan in Champions League hunt

A rare Hakan Calhanoglu goal gave AC Milan a 1-0 win at mid-table Fiorentina in Serie A on Saturday (May 11) to keep them in the hunt for a Champions League place.

Serie A - AC Milan v Lazio - San Siro, Milan, Italy - April 13, 2019 AC Milan's Hakan Calhanoglu celebrates after AC Milan are awarded a penalty. (Reuters)
Serie A - AC Milan v Lazio - San Siro, Milan, Italy - April 13, 2019 AC Milan's Hakan Calhanoglu celebrates after AC Milan are awarded a penalty. (Reuters)

The Turkish midfielder met Suso's cross with a glancing header to score only his second league goal of the season in the 36th minute and leave Fiorentina coach Vincenzo Montella waiting for his first win since taking charge one month ago.

Milan, needing a top-four finish to qualify for the Champions League, are fifth with 62 points, one behind Inter Milan who do not play until Monday when they host relegated Chievo.

Third-placed Atalanta have 65 points after beating Genoa 2-1 earlier on Saturday.

Fiorentina, who have dropped to 13th in the table, are winless in their last 14 games in all competitions including six since Montella replaced Stefano Pioli.

They have lost their last five games, all by a single goal, and not scored in their last three.

The hosts nearly levelled when Federico Chiesa cut inside and fired at goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma who spilled the shot but Alessio Romanogli rescued Milan with a desperate clearance.

Reuters