Parma came tantalisingly close to pulling off one of the shocking results of the Serie A season so far, only to be denied by two stoppage-time strikes from AC Milan, now winners of five of their seven games under new boss Sérgio Conceição.To say the opening quarter of this clash was a non-event would be an understatement, the little goalmouth action hinting at a long afternoon for the neutral.
But out of absolutely nowhere, Parma inject some life into this contest in some style. Matteo Cancellieri is given far too much time and space as he drives towards goal before stepping inside onto his left foot, curling a sumptuous effort into the bottom corner.
That perhaps served as the wake-up call Milan needed as they had the ball in the net themselves moments later through Álvaro Morata, but the Spanish frontman had strayed offside.
They were gift-wrapped an opportunity to get back into the game 10 minutes before HT though, when a peculiar penalty - which was awarded after goalkeeper Zion Suzuki pushed over Strahinja Pavlović in the area - was put away in clinical fashion by Christian Pulisic.
Conceição still decided he'd seen enough at halftime and made a double substitution which sparked controversy as Rafael Leão was one of the players withdrawn.
Those changes didn’t have too much impact on his side’s performance levels though, and they were lucky not to fall behind for a second time when Hernani’s 35-yard drive whistled inches over the bar.
Given that Milan were heavy favourites for the three points heading into kick-off, it was actually Parma doing all the running for the winning goal. They can count themselves a little unlucky that they didn't edge back ahead 20 minutes from time too as Pontus Almqvist racing through on goal was denied by the on-rushing Mike Maignan.
That, however proved only a temporary reprieve for the decorated hosts, who were left shell-shocked when Maignan again performed heroically to deny Drissa Camara, but he was powerless to deny Enrico Del Prato prodding home the rebound.
Milan were never likely to take that lying down and they thought they'd snatched a late leveller when Pavlović popped up at the back post to head home what he thought was an equaliser, only for VAR to confirm the centre-back had strayed offside before scoring.
With an equaliser literally the last gasp for breath in their body, Rossoneri literally threw the kitchen sink at Parma in the dying stages and that leveller arrived with quite literally the last kick of the second minute of stoppage time as Tijjani Reijnders ghosted into the area to turn home the goal that finally set up that grandstand finish.
Still time for one crazy twist, though, with almost the last kick of the game, one of Conceição's earlier substitutes Samuel Chukwueze popped up in the area to turn home Pavlović's knockdown and secure three huge points in their battle to close the gap on the European places.