Milan and Roma drew 2-2, with Tammy Abraham's stoppage-time equalizer ending Roma's amazing comeback and ending Milan's chances of reclaiming the Serie A championship.
After Pierre Kalulu's first-half header, Milan appeared to be winning easily until substitute Tommaso Pobega added a second goal 13 minutes from time. Roma had not yet created anything resembling a legitimate chance at that point.
After 87 minutes, Roger Ibanez scored with a strong header against the flow of play, sparking a late flurry in which Abraham was the fastest to respond to a rebound from another corner kick at San Siro.
After Napoli, the Scudetto favorites, successfully defended their own 2-0 lead against Sampdoria earlier on Sunday, Milan lost vital ground in the fight for the championship with just one point, falling seven points behind Napoli.
As Jose Mourinho served his touchline suspension, Roma started poorly and fell down after 30 minutes when Kalulu beat Rui Patricio with a downward header from a corner kick by Sandro Tonali.
After the half, it was still all one-way traffic as Olivier Giroud headed directly at Patricio and Theo Hernandez saw a ferocious drive unconvincingly parried by the goalkeeper.
Pobega received Rafael Leao's pass in stride before beating Patricio with a deflected left-footed finish, giving Milan the two-goal lead they deserved. However, Ibanez halved the deficit from Lorenzo Pellegrini's corner just as the Rossoneri appeared likely to once again pull within five points of Napoli at the finish line, and there was still one more twist in store.
Nemanja Matic headed a deep free kick from close range, forcing Ciprian Tatarusanu to make a save, but Abraham pounced to hammer high into the net, depriving Milan an important victory at the death.
ANOTHER CHANGE IN THE INTENSE TITLE RACE
Because of Napoli's unyielding pace at the top of Serie A and Juventus' unexpected emergence as Scudetto contenders following an eight-game winning streak, every game for Milan currently feels like a championship. It may sound cliché, but this is the season of the finals.
Since Milan last lost a Serie A game with a two-goal lead after 85 minutes in October 2009 against Napoli, their late capitulation may prove costly. Stefano Pioli's champions handled the pressure well for much of Sunday's game.
DEAD-BALL WORK BY ROMA PAYS OFF
On Sunday, Roma's lack of innovation appeared to be costing them dearly as the Giallorossi failed to register an attempt on goal until Ibanez's goal.
However, the visitors' knowledge of set pieces was the deciding factor. Their 10 of 21 Serie A goals this season, or a staggering 48% of all their goals in the league, have now come from such circumstances.
TONALI MANIPULATES EVENTS.
Although Milan will be disappointed to have lost two points in the dying moments, Tonali's performance, who set up Kalulu's opening goal as part of a cool performance, was a huge plus.
Since the beginning of November, the midfielder has now contributed to four league goals (one goal, three assists). Only Marcus Tavernier (five), Youcef Belaili, and Martin Odegaard (both six) have surpassed that total among the top five leagues in Europe over the same time frame.
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