Deulofeu keeps Milan's European hopes alive
First-half goals from Juraj Kucka and Gerard Deulofeu helped AC Milan keep its Europa League qualification hopes alive with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Fiorentina at San Siro.
Kucka rose highest to nod home a Jose Sosa free-kick on 16 minutes, only for Nikola Kalinic to get the visitor back on level terms almost immediately as he bagged his 11th goal of the season from close range.
But on 31 minutes, Deulofeu claimed what proved to be the winner, bending home his first Serie A goal from the edge of the box.
The victory was a welcome one for Vincenzo Montella's side which had picked up only eight points from its previous seven games and was seeking to avoid a third successive home defeat.
The result moved the host to within four points of Atalanta which currently occupies the final UEFA Europa League place.
Fiorentina, in contrast, had come into the game in decent form having lost only one of its last five games in all competitions but it missed the chance to climb above the home side.
