FIKAYO TOMORI edged out best friend Tammy Abraham in the battle of the Chelsea academy graduates as ten-man AC Milan beat Roma 2-1 at the Stadio Olimpico.
The England internationals both departed Stamford Bridge on permanent spells in the summer, with Tomori exacting revenge on his ex-team-mate.
The last time the duo faced each other was in the 2019 Championship Play-off final between Aston Villa and Derby.
Both men were on season-long loan spells away from West London, with Abraham starting for the Villans, while Tomori featured at the back for the Rams.
And it was Abraham who came out on top in that match, but it is Tomori who had the last laugh as his Milan side outclassed Jose Mourinho’s men in the Italian capital.
Veteran centre-forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic brought up his 400th league goal at the age of 40 after firing home a free-kick in the 25th minute.
The ex-Barcelona marksman rifled his effort through the wall and into the bottom right corner, before being booked for his excessive celebration.
And the visitors thought they had doubled their lead just before the break through Rafael Leao, but the goal was ruled out.
Ibrahimovic, who had flicked the ball into the path of the ex-LIlle man, was judged to have been in an offside position.
And the Swedish legend was again ruled offside in the 50th minute after he expertly tucked the ball home into the bottom left corner.
He ran onto Simon Kjaer’s lofted pass, before controlling it onto his chest and tucking his finish into the back of the net on the half-volley.
But he strayed beyond Roma’s defensive line, however it didn’t take him long to make another impact in the match.
Just three minutes later, Ibrahimovic was fouled inside the box by Roger Ibanez, who seemed to have got some of the ball when sliding in.
After a lengthy VAR review, the referee decided against overturning his decision, with Franck Kessie subsequently tucking home the spot-kick.
It was to be Ibra’s last major involvement as he was replaced by Tomori and Abraham’s former Blues team-mate Olivier Giroud just before the hour mark.
The drama wasn’t over as Milan left-back Theo Hernandez was sent off in the 66th minute for receiving his second yellow card.
Roma pushed on for a late goal, and after heavy pressure, they finally got their reward as Stephan El Shaarawy scored in injury time.
But it was too little too late as Milan held on for the crucial three points.
The result moves the Rossoneri level on points with Napoli at the top of the Serie A table, but it is the Partenopei who lead the way on goal difference.
Meanwhile Roma remain in fourth spot, with Mourinho’s men now suffering two league defeats in their last four matches.
