The Japan Times - De Vrij snatches last-gasp Milan derby draw for Inter

De Vrij forced home Nicola Zalewski's knock-down in the third minute of stoppage time just as it looked like Tijjani Reijnder's opener on the stroke of half-time would be enough for Milan.

Inter drawing with Milan however means league leaders Napoli can go five points at rivals Roma in the days' late game if Antonio Conte's in-form team bag an eighth straight win.

On Thursday Inter will have a chance to regain ground regardless of what happens with Napoli as they will complete their away fixture at Fiorentina which was stopped in December following Viola midfielder Edoardo Bove's on-pitch collapse.

Milan meanwhile stay eighth, five points behind fourth-placed Juventus who beat Empoli 4-1 earlier on Sunday, with a game in hand after hanging on for a point in a match dominated by Inter.

Netherlands midfielder Tijjani netted on the rebound at the end of a lightning counter-attack after Yann Sommer palmed out Rafael Leao's low cross.

To lose to that goal would have been a sucker-punch for dominant Inter who had three goals chalked off while Yann Bisseck, Marcus Thuram and Denzel Dumfries all hit the post in the second half.

But another Dutchman in De Vrij pounced at the death to silence a packed San Siro which was dominated by Milan fans but which missed some of its colour due to a police ban on pre-match fan displays as part of a crackdown on the hardcore ultra supporters of the two clubs.

In September, 19 leading ultras from Milan and Inter were arrested as part of a probe into illegal profits made around matches and the infiltration of mafia gangs into supporters groups.

- Kolo Muani strikes -

Randal Kolo Muani struck twice in three minutes in the second half, with Dusan Vlahovic and Francisco Conceicao netting late on with Empoli down to 10 men, as Juve bounced back from going behind early and moved into Italy's Champions League positions.

Lazio are a point behind Juve and will reclaim fourth place if they win at struggling Cagliari on Monday night.

"The players deserved to win. They played with courage and as a team. They took on responsibility on the pitch," said Juve coach Thiago Motta to DAZN.

"It's a strong, united group of players that's moving forward. Let's look ahead to the next match."

Motta's inconsistent side had been showered with boos and whistles after going in at half-time trailing to a fourth-minute header from old boy Mattia De Sciglio.

But Kolo Muani, who opened his Juve account on his debut in last weekend's defeat at league leaders Napoli, levelled the scores in the 61st minute when he brushed past Saba Goglichidze and confidently finished from close range.

The 26-year-old then put the hosts in front in fortuitous fashion three minutes later when he diverted Timothy Weah's wayward distance effort past the despairing grasp of Devis Vasquez.

Empoli, who are a point above the relegation zone, went down to 10 when Youssef Maleh was sent off with six minutes remaining after picking up two bookings, the second for a wild challenge on Nicolas Gonzalez.

And Vlahovic, who was dropped for Kolo Muani and is tipped to leave Juve in the summer, lashed in his first goal since mid-December in the 90th minute before Conceicao rounded off the scoring in stoppage time.

M.Yamazaki--JT