Juraj Kucka scored his first AC Milan goal to earn his side a 1-1 draw with Roma at the Stadio Olimpico this evening.
The hosts got off to a flying start and could have taken the lead inside the opening minute when Gianluigi Donnarumma pulled off a fine save to thwart Sadiq Umar from close range.
Roma would not have to wait long to break the deadlock, though, doing so just three minutes later when Miralem Pjanic's floated free kick found Antonio Rudiger unmarked at the back post to volley home the opener.
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It was Rudiger's first goal for the club, but he almost doubled his personal tally midway through the half when he latched on to a corner, only for Donnarumma to turn his header against the crossbar.
The capital outfit were made to pay for those missed chances as Milan began the second half just as quickly as Roma had started the first, levelling things up within five minutes of the restart when Kucka nodded Keisuke Honda's cross past Wojciech Szczesny.
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Kucka had a chance to complete the turnaround on the hour mark too as he was picked out inside the box, but this time his finish was not up to scratch as he skied his effort over the top.
The visitors came even closer to taking the lead five minutes later when Carlos Bacca let fly from the edge of the box, beating the keeper with his powerful effort but not the woodwork as his shot crashed off the crossbar.
Roma's first real threat of the second half came with five minutes remaining of normal time when Alessandro Florenzi fired a long-range effort towards goal, but it flew narrowly wide of the target.
That proved to be the final opening of the match as the spoils were shared, leaving Roma still fifth in the table and lifting Milan up a spot to sixth.
Barney Corkhill
