Rome: AC Milan conceded a late equalizer in a 1-1 draw at Lecce on Sunday, missing a chance to extend its Serie A lead after second-placed Napoli had drawn a day earlier.
Milan went ahead from a magnificent strike by Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the 49th minute, but Uruguayan midfielder Ruben Olivera drew Lecce level in the 82nd with a bouncing shot from the center of the area after being left unmarked at a corner.
Milan leads with 41 points. Lazio and Napoli are next with 37 each, AS Roma has 35, Juventus 34 and Inter Milan 32 with two matches to make up.
In an otherwise lackluster performance for Milan, Ibrahimovic's goal was a work of art. The Sweden international shrugged off a defender beyond the area and calmly lobbed a precise shot inside the far high corner of the goal as 'keeper Antonio Rosati looked on helplessly.
It was the 11th goal this season for Ibrahimovic after returning to Italy following an unhappy stint with Barcelona.
"You don't expect a shot from that position, but from a champion like him you've got to be ready for anything," Rosati said. "Anyhow, a draw for a team like ours fighting to avoid relegation is great."
Lecce continuously threatened to equalize, with Milan goalkeeper Marco Amelia having to swat away a dangerous effort from Guillermo Giacomazzi in the 61st. Lecce forward David Di Michele had a shot that hit the post in the 81st.
"We weren't able to close it out when we went ahead 1-0," said Milan manager Massimiliano Allegri. "We didn't create much, very little actually."
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