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31 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 23 DECEMBER 2018 SPORTS PREMIER LEAGUE SERIE A FEDERICO Chiesa's strike 17 minutes from time earned Fioren- tina their first away win of the sea- son as AC Milan's recent struggles continued in a 1-0 loss at San Siro. The visitors barely threatened Gianluigi Donnarumma's goal but Chiesa jinked past Davide Calabria and fired home his first goal since September to settle the contest. The Rossoneri have now won just one of their previous six con- tests in Serie A and have failed to score in any of their last three. Milan entered this contest on the back of two 0-0 draws in Serie A and failed to find a way through in the opening 45 minutes, despite creating plenty of opportunities. Hakan Calhanoglu spurned one of the best, firing wide in the 18th minute after a stroke of fortune saw the ball ricochet back into his path in the box following an at- tempted give and go with Suso. Fiorentina goalkeeper Alban Lafont brilliantly parried away a viciously struck effort from Ricar- do Rodriguez while Calhanoglu was denied by Nikola Milenko- vic's clearance off the line on the stroke of half-time. It took until the 51st minute for Fiorentina to fashion their first decent opening as Kevin Mirallas hooked way over from inside the box. Lafont was kept busy at the oth- er end, though, denying Suso at his near post and then preventing Gonzalo Higuain's header from creeping past him. With just over 20 minutes to go Milan coach Gennaro Gattuso threw on Diego Laxalt and Patrick Cutrone in a bid to inject some life into his below-par outfit but it was Fiorentina that would claim the winner. Chiesa knocked the ball inside Calabria and his right-footed at- tempt crashed into the corner. Lafont then tipped Rodriguez's header over as Milan fell to their fourth league loss of the season. LEICESTER stunned Chelsea at Stam- ford Bridge as Jamie Vardy's second- half strike saw Maurizio Sarri's side defeated at home for the first time this season. Vardy finished first time in the box from James Maddison's pass in the 51st minute after the Foxes had with- stood heavy pressure. Chelsea were dominant before the break and struck the bar through Eden Hazard, the best of a host of chances that came following a Harry Maguire error. But having gone behind it was Chel- sea who became sloppy and Leicester only grew in strength. Indeed, the Foxes might have dou- bled their lead but for Cesar Azpili- cueta's sliding block to deny Vardy after Kepa Arrizabalaga had spilled a cross, before the keeper saved well from Marc Albrighton. Chasing a goal of their own, Chelsea could not break down Leicester's re- sistance, despite creating two key late chances. In the 89th minute, Antonio Rudiger nodded just wide from a corner, be- fore Marcos Alonso struck the post with only the keeper to beat. The Blues had not lost at home since 1 April, against Tottenham, and this defeat leaves them level on points with fifth-placed Arsenal, who beat Burnley 3-1 earlier yesterday. For Leicester, the win moves them up to ninth in the table and is their first victory from 11 matches in London. Reports before the game spoke not just of pressure on Leicester boss Claude Puel from the club's owners but of an apparent falling out with his players, too. There was little sign of the team lacking any motivation or desire on the pitch yesterday. Resisting the intensity of Chelsea's attacking intent is by no means a small feat. Puel's men not only managed to achieve that, but also to build on it as they forced themselves slowly but surely into the game. It was Vardy's goal, scored on his 250th appearance for the club, that sealed victory, but it was a win earned by the whole team through constant running, daring in defence, and preci- sion when it counted. With Manchester City up next on 26 December, it had been suggested that Leicester's following match at home to Cardiff on 29 December might even de- cide the future of their French manager. Instead, this impressive victory, a first at Stamford Bridge since 2000, must surely now stand as evidence of Puel's worth. Fiorentina put more misery on Milan Federico Chiesa Jamie Vardy strike stuns Chelsea Vardy was making his 250th Leicester appearance