Missed penalties haunt Milan as De Gea helps Fiorentina seal 2-1 win

FLORENCE, Italy :AC Milan suffered a 2-1 defeat at Fiorentina in Serie A on Sunday after goals from Yacine Adli and Albert Gudmundsson sealed the points in a clash with three missed penalties as David de Gea twice saved spot kicks to help the hosts.

In a pulsating encounter of near-misses and tense moments, De Gea and Milan keeper Mike Maignan pulled off breathtaking penalty saves. De Gea kept out spot kicks from Theo Hernandez and Tammy Abraham, while Maignan denied Moise Kean.

Milan start the international break in sixth place with 11 points, five behind leaders Napoli, while Fiorentina are 11th on 10 after two wins and a draw in their last three league games.

"Today's win is crucial. Finally, the work we've put in over the past few weeks is starting to pay off. Beating Milan can set the stage for a different season," De Gea told DAZN.

"It was an incredible night. I want to focus not on the penalties, but on the work the team is doing to give the fans a night like this."

The drama began after 22 minutes when Fiore striker Kean's frustrating night took shape as Frenchman Maignan saved his penalty, which was awarded after Hernandez fouled Dodo.

Minutes later, Kean did find the back of the net but his effort was disallowed as he was clearly offside.

Adli eventually broke the deadlock 10 minutes before halftime with a low shot from the edge of the box that went in off the post but the on-loan Milan midfielder did not celebrate the goal out of respect for his parent club.

DOUBLE SAVE

Milan earned a penalty themselves just before the break when Tijjani Reijnders was tripped by defender Luca Ranieri, but Hernandez's attempt was saved by Spaniard De Gea, who made a stunning one-handed stop in the bottom corner.

Kean’s difficult night