AC Milan 1 : 1 Juventus - All-square at a controversial San Siro

Posted Saturday, February 25, 2012 by PA

AC Milan and Juventus remain first and second in Serie A following their 1-1 draw at the San Siro although both teams could justifiably feel aggrieved by refereeing decisions which may have cost them three points.

Antonio Nocerino put Milan ahead in the 14th minute and Sulley Muntari appeared to have doubled the lead midway through the first half when his header crossed the line but inexplicably it was not given.

Juventus then had the ball in the net 11 minutes from time but Alessandro Matri was wrongly adjudged to be offside before the same player scored four minutes later. Juve ended the game with 10 men after Arturo Vidal was sent off in the 88th minute for a challenge on Mark van Bommel.

The hosts went ahead with the first chance of the game, Nocerino's powerful shot from outside the area dipping beneath the bar.

Milan seemed to make it 2-0 when Muntari's header clearly crossed the line before Gianluigi Buffon clawed it back - however, the goal was not awarded.

That decision was almost compounded moments later when Claudio Marchisio shot from the left but Christian Abbiati saved well.

Thiago Silva was just wide for the hosts before Andrea Pirlo, returning to the San Siro for the first time since his summer move, also narrowly missed.

Matri then appeared to have equalised after scoring in the bottom right-hand corner but he was flagged offside - replays showed, however, he was onside.

However, Matri then levelled with a close-range volley from Simone Pepe's cross although the point was overshadowed by Vidal's lunge on Van Bommel and subsequent red card.