Leão Fires Milan Top as Late Lazio Penalty Shout Sparks Chaos

Rafael Leão dragged AC Milan back to the top of Serie A with a tidy second-half finish in a scrappy 1-0 win over Lazio – and the visitors was absolutely raging after a stoppage-time penalty shout got waved away.

The Portuguese winger nicked the only goal six minutes after the break, sliding in at the far post to meet Fikayo Tomori’s low ball across the box. It was hardly vintage stuff, but Milan didn’t care one bit as they edged ahead of Roma in the table.

The real drama kicked off deep into injury time. Alessio Romagnoli’s drive clattered off Strahinja Pavlović’s arm, sending Lazio players screaming for a spot-kick. After a long VAR trawl – nearly five minutes of it – the referee stuck with his on-field call and gave nothing. Cue utter fury from the Biancocelesti, who surrounded the officials demanding answers.

Massimiliano Allegri didn’t survive the chaos either. The Milan boss was sent off in the middle of the VAR delay, barking at the fourth official and losing his cool while both benches simmered. He trotted off down the tunnel still shaking his head.

Stats won’t flatter either side. Milan managed just a handful of proper chances, while Lazio huffed and puffed without any real bite in the final third. Leão’s finish was one of the few moments of genuine quality, and Tomori’s assist capped a solid night at the back for the Englishman.

The win nudges Milan one point clear at the summit, at least until Roma host reigning champions Napoli on Sunday night. Lazio stay eighth, looking a bit short on consistency as the fixtures start coming thick and fast. Milan, meanwhile, march on – even if they did need a slice of luck at the death.