DEFEAT TO DORTMUND AT SAN SIRO
Champions League
A tough one to take for AC Milan, who lost at home to Borussia Dortmund as their Champions League prospects just got a little more complicated. There was a chance today for the Rossoneri to overtake the German giants and take matters into their own hands. However, it ended 3-1 at San Siro. The brilliant win against Paris Saint-Germain remains their lone victory in the competition this season and that really is a shame. It looked to be a tough evening right from the off as Giroud's penalty was saved before the visitors scored from the spot themselves just minutes later. Chukwueze's first goal for the Club was not enough as BVB were clinical in the second half.
The team could and should have done better, especially given the amount of technical errors and lapse in focus tonight. The Rossoneri's matchday 5 fixture is now behind us, with AC Milan on 5 points having not been able to catch up to Dortmund, who are now guaranteed to go through. But it's not all doom and gloom as PSG's 1-1 draw with Newcastle United gives us a glimmer of hope: should PSG lose in Germany in the final group game, AC Milan would go through with a win against the Magpies at St James' Park. For now, though, we're back to it in Serie A as we host Frosinone at San Siro on Saturday night.
CHECK OUT THE GALLERY FROM AC MILAN v BORUSSIA DORTMUND
THE MATCH
It was AC Milan who took control of proceedings early on and inside six minutes had a huge chance to open the scoring when Chukwueze’s cross hit the arm of Schlotterbeck in the area: penalty! But from the spot, Giroud’s rather tame shot was read and saved by Kobel. Incredibly, the roles reversed and down the other end it was Calabria who tripped Bynoe-Gittens in the box in the 10th minute: penalty! This time, though, Reus found the right power and placement to convert into the corner. Dortmund took heart, and in the 19th minute Bynoe-Gittens’ shot flew just over. The reaction was timid, with Pulisic’s right-footed attempt blocked by the keeper on 23 minutes and Giroud, in front of goal, being denied a few minutes later; in between, Malen worked Maignan. After an innocuous attempt by Sabitzer, a timely equaliser came on 37’: Chukwueze, dribbling on the wing, advanced forward, got to the byline, cut inside and drilled one home from a tight angle with his left. With parity restored, Adli placed the ball on a tee for Sammy, but it was cut out just in time. In first-half stoppage time, a great chance fell to Calabria – at the back post – from a perfect Pulisic cross, but his header went just wide. 1-1 at half-time.
The Rossoneri came flying out of the traps after the break, and four minutes in Pulisic’s half-bicycle kick smashed against Ryerson. There was bad news when Thiaw was forced off for a muscular problem, with Krunić the only viable alternative to replace him. Things got worse in the 59th minute when Bynoe-Gittens scored past Maignan for Dortmund’s second, finding the bottom corner with a precise shot after being set up by Sabitzer. There was very little threat from the home team in trying to get back into the game apart from Giroud’s flicked header from a corner, which was stopped by Kobel. To add insult to injury, the Gialloneri got a third on 69': Adeyemi’s shot from the edge of the area was saved by Maignan but not enough for it to spin behind and just cross over the line, despite the French keeper’s best attempts to claw it away. Jović and Traorè were put on to try and salvage something, with some moments produced but without the desired hope. It wasn't to be the Rossoneri's night, as Jović’s spin and shot whacked against the post after 85 minutes. The Germans weren’t happy to sit back and continued to push forward: Füllkrug headed just over a minute prior, and then struck the bar after '88'. In injury-time, Jović and Sabitzer tried in vain. At the full-time whistle, it ended 3-1 to the away side.
MATCH DETAILS
AC MILAN 1-3 BORUSSIA DORTMUND
AC MILAN (4-3-3): Maignan; Calabria, Thiaw (53' Krunić), Tomori, Hernández; Loftus-Cheek, Adli (77' Jović), Reijnders; Chukwueze (77' Traorè), Giroud, Pulisic. Subs: Mirante, Nava; Bartesaghi, Florenzi; Pobega. Coach: Pioli.
BORUSSIA DORTMUND (4-2-3-1): Kobel; Ryerson, Hummels, Schlotterbeck (55' Özcan), Bensebaini; Can, Sabitzer; Malen (55' Adeyemi), Reus (79' Brandt), Bynoe-Gittens (66' Wolf); Füllkrug. Subs: Lotka, Meyer; Blank; Reyna; Haller, Moukoko. Coach: Terzić.
Referee: Istvá Kovács (ROU).
Goals: 10' pen. Reus (BD), 37' Chukwueze (M), 59' Bynoe-Gittens (BD), 69' Adeyemi (BD).
Booked: 67' Tomori (M), 96' Can (BD).
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