FRANCK KESSIE scored a 97th-minute penalty to rescue a 1-1 draw for AC Milan at home to Udinese on Wednesday, giving Serie A leader Inter Milan the chance to pull six points clear at the top.

Rodrigo Becao’s second-half header at the San Siro completely deceived Milan goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and Stefano Pioli’s faltering side looked destined for a third defeat in four games.

But a needless handball from Udinese substitute Jens Stryger Larsen offered Milan a lifeline, with Ivorian international Kessie converting the penalty with the final kick of the match. Milan struggled to create many genuine chances in the absence of top scorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic, with the Swede sidelined by a groin injury picked up in last weekend’s victory over Roma.

Ibrahimovic will miss Milan’s trip to his former club Manchester United in the first leg of their Europa League last 16 tie.

Udinese goalkeeper Juan Musso made good saves from Kessie and Samuel Castillejo early in the second half, but it was the visitors who should have taken the lead when Ilija Nestorovski’s header was cleared off the line brilliantly by Alessio Romagnoli.

(SD-Agencies)