Lookman late strike give Atalanta win over AC Milan to go top

A late strike from Ademola Lookman secured Atalanta a hard-fought 2-1 win over AC Milan on Friday, lifting the hosts to the top of Serie A.

Three minutes before fulltime, a corner sailed across the box and an unmarked Lookman headed in the winner for Atalanta.

The result propelled the hosts to the top of the standings with 34 points, two ahead of Napoli who will play Lazio at home on Sunday. Milan are seventh with 22 points.

The win meant Atalanta matched their record nine-match winning streak in Serie A, equalling the run they achieved from February to July 2020.

As a sign of things to come, both Atalanta and Milan started aggressively, with chances created within the first minutes.

Christian Pulisic’s angled shot was saved in the opening seconds by Atalanta keeper Marco Carnesecchi, and moments later, Mario Pasalic missed a close-range opportunity for the hosts, sending the ball soaring over the bar.

Milan thought they had taken the lead in the seventh minute, as Alvaro Morata found the net, but his celebration was cut short by the offside flag.

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Former Milan player Charles De Ketelaere leapt his marker to head Atalanta into the lead after 12 minutes, finishing off a perfectly delivered corner.

Ten minutes later, Milan replied when Rafael Leao sent a cross into the box to Morata, who swept it home from close range to equalise.

Milan faced an injury concern just before the break when Pulisic limped off the pitch after what looked like an unfortunate slip following contact with an Atalanta player.

After receiving treatment from the medical staff, the pain proved too much for him to continue and he was substituted, helped off the field by two members of the medical team.

Sky Sport Italia said later he was suffering from a calf muscle issue, which will require further testing.

The second half was evenly contested, with both sides creating several chances, and Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan made a save in stoppage time to deny Atalanta a third goal.

“It’s a very important game against a very strong team that is doing well in the league. We performed well tonight, three big points and we continue like this,” Lookman said.

“I think we just continue to play the way we play, match by match. We believe in ourselves as a team, so we continue like this and stay together.”

Lookman late strike give Atalanta win over AC Milan to go top

Iwobi scores twice as Fulham beat Brighton 3-1

Brighton suffered only their third Premier League defeat of the season as two goals from Alex Iwobi, along with an own goal from the unfortunate Matt O’Riley, helped Fulham to victory at a wet and windy Craven Cottage.

The game was played in horrendous conditions of heavy rain and strong winds, but there were no excuses for Bart Verbruggen’s early mistake to gift the hosts the lead.

After only three minutes, Brighton’s Dutch keeper, looking to play a short pass to team-mate Carlos Baleba inside the penalty area, saw Alex Iwobi intercept and slide the ball into an unguarded net for his fourth league goal of the season.

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Fulham had a chance to quickly double their lead when Iwobi looked to be through on goal, only for Igor Julio to come across and cover well.

Brighton grabbed a deserved equaliser 11 minutes into the second half.

Jan Paul van Hecke played a lofted pass and Joao Pedro, nominated for November’s Premier League Player of the Month award, produced a clever touch to set up Baleba to fire low past Bernd Leno from 20 yards out.

It was a lovely goal, followed by a special celebration as Baleba showed his gymnastics skills with an acrobatic somersault, although this was not the springboard for Brighton to get what would have been their seventh win of the season.

Fulham retook the lead in fortunate circumstances as Andreas Pereira’s 79th-minute corner from the left struck O’Riley and bounced into his own net.

Iwobi then sealed victory with a powerful 87th-minute strike for his second goal of the match to ensure Fulham claimed the three points and moved up to sixth spot – a point behind their fifth-placed visitors.

Iwobi scores twice as Fulham beat Brighton 3-1

Messi to kick off new Club World Cup, Neymar faces Madrid [Full draw]

Lionel Messi and Inter Miami will kick off FIFA’s new 32-team Club World Cup when the Major League Soccer side take on Egypt’s Al Ahly in the June 15 opener, the draw for the tournament revealed on Thursday.

Brazilian team Palmeiras and Portugal’s Porto complete Group A alongside Argentina World Cup winner Messi, whose Miami team were handed a spot by FIFA after finishing top of the regular season standings in MLS.

Messi’s former Barcelona team-mate, Brazilian Neymar, will have a reunion with La Liga rivals and European champions Real Madrid in Group H.