UNDER 17'S DEFEATED BY TORINO ON PENALTIES IN THE SCUDETTO FINAL

A bitter ending to a Final which was played with pride and courage. The Under 17 mens team lost the final to Torino on penalties, after having played with ten men for nearly an hour. One error from the spot gave the Granata the win, but the Rossoneri went close to scoring throughout the 120 minutes of play, despite playing with less players. La Mantia hit the post and Lontani hit the bar as the team went close on a number of occasions. 

Coach Renna's side did not stop playing, attacking or trying to be dominant despite the numerical gap on the pitch. And so the applause, which is already guaranteed after such an impressive journey now feels even more heartfelt, as it acknowledges the team’s quality and the right attitude. Heads held high, boys, you proved your worth and truly deserved the title. Congratulations to Torino on the victory, and now let’s get behind the Under 15 and Under 17 girls’ teams, both still in the running in their respective championships.

CHECK OUT THE GALLERY FROM  AC MILAN v TORINO

MATCH REPORT
The first half was filled with chances for the Rossoneri. The Granata's keeper was called into action for the first time in the eighth minute to deny Lontani's header, and then in the 12th minute when he intercepted Pandolfi's dangerous cross. Pandolfi tried his luck from distance in the 19th minute, but didn't cause too much trouble for the keeper. Pitarella made his only save of the half in the 28th minute when he denied Reynheim. In the 31st minute, Tartaglia crossed from the left and La Mantia rose to connect to it but hit the post. The Rossoneri went close again. It ended 0-0 at the break. 

At the start of the second half, Lontani's left-footed shot hit the bar and bounced off of the goal line. In the 62nd and 64th minute, the match took two possible turns: Lontani was forced off due to injury, replaced by Pisati. Then, Vechiu was sent off after receiving a second yellow card. Despite being with ten men, AC Milan never sat back: Torino never posed a real threat, and in the final minutes AC Milan created two major chances. It went to extra time. Torino failed to break through and AC Milan went close again in the 117th minute when Cereser went on a lone run but found his effort denied by Cereser, the undisputed MVP of the night. It went to penalties, Cereser denied Borsani's effort and Torino were crowned champions.

MATCH DETAILS

AC MILAN 0-0 TORINO 4-5 on penalties

AC MILAN (4-3-3): Pittarella; Vechiu, Cullotta, Valeri, Tartaglia (70' Borsani); Pandolfi (104' Grassini), Arnaboldi (104' Cissé), Plazzotta; Zaramella, Lontani (62' Pisati), La Mantia (96' Nolli). Unused subs.: Faccioli; V. Ibrahimović, Lupo, Mazzeo. Coach.: Renna

TORINO (4-3-3): Cereser; Cekrezi (84' Moretti), Cantarella, Carrascosa, Gori (67' Bianchi); Ballanti, Amisano, Penkov (74' Lebrino) (106' Mukerjee); Sheji (46' Luongo), Reynheim (67' Falasca), Odendo (46' Bonacina). Unused subs.: Martena; Re. Coach.: Rebuffi. 

Referee: Polizzotto di Palermo
Booked: 51' Luongo (T), 60' Vechiu (M), 66' Gori (T), 68' Tartaglia (M), 79' La Mantia (M), 100' Renna (M).
Sent off: 65' Vechiu (M).
Penalties: Ballanti (T) goal, Vladimirov (M) goal, Falasca (T) goal, Borsani (M) saved, Bonacina (T) goal, Plazzotta (M) goal, Bianchi (T) goal, Pisati (M) goal, Luongo (T) goal. 

Subscribe to the AC Milan WhatsApp channel!