MILAN FUTURO WIN 2‑1 AT GOODISON PARK
Milan Futuro
A night worthy of AC Milan - or, in this case, Milan Futuro. A European night in the white shirt, the colour of the biggest occasions. Milan Futuro’s first-ever appearance in the Premier League International Cup U21 ended with a superb victory at one of English football’s most historic grounds. The final score at Goodison Park in Liverpool was Everton U21 1-2 Milan Futuro, as Sergio Navarro’s Rossoneri produced an excellent display full of quality and endeavour. Federico Colombo and Lorenzo Ossola got the goals, either side of Graham’s equaliser from a free-kick early in the second half, during the young Toffees’ best spell.
That proved to be Everton’s only real period of pressure, with Milan Futuro delivering an assured performance throughout the 90 minutes and having chances to win by a wider margin. Both teams struck the woodwork several times, while Everton goalkeeper Pickford produced a string of excellent saves, particularly in the first half. Every player involved deserves credit for a result that adds further momentum to the work being done at Milanello and allows them to approach a demanding September with confidence and optimism. The league campaign begins on Sunday afternoon, when Caldiero Terme visit the Chinetti for a 15:00 CEST kick-off.
CHECK OUT THE GALLERY FROM EVERTON U21 v MILAN FUTURO
MATCH REPORT
The two sides felt their way into the contest, and after a quiet opening quarter-hour, the first big chance at either end came just after the 15-minute mark. Plazzotta was unable to direct his close-range effort on target for the Rossoneri, before Graham fired inches wide at the other end. Borsani drove in from the left, but his powerful left-footed strike from a tight angle flew over (19’). Ossola then produced a moment of quality, creating space on the edge of the box before Pickford tipped his left-footed effort onto the post (25’). A goal was coming, and it arrived a minute later: Guernier led the counter, Pickford made the initial save and Colombo converted the rebound. The Rossoneri were inspired and continued to push, with Pandolfi’s right-footed drive from distance (29’) forcing the Everton goalkeeper into an excellent save. Plazzotta then tried his luck with a free-kick (38’), but Pickford made another stop. Everton responded immediately, with Graham’s deflected effort coming back off the post.
The hosts made the brighter start to the second half and hit the woodwork again through Graham (50’), whose curling right-footed effort crashed against the bar. The Rossoneri tried to halt Everton’s momentum, but the home side made their pressure count when Graham equalised with an excellent free-kick (57’). The tempo dropped following the leveller, prompting both coaches to make their first substitutions. Pandolfi attempted to catch Pickford out, but the goalkeeper gathered his right-footed effort at the second attempt (72’). Milan Futuro then punished a Toffees mistake: Castiello launched the counter (77’) and found Ossola, who cut inside and finished with his left foot to make it 2-1. Everton committed more players forward, but the Rossoneri did anything but sit back. Foster cleared off the line to deny Plazzotta (88’) when his left-footed strike looked destined for the net. The score remained unchanged during five minutes of added time as Milan Futuro began their international adventure with a superb victory.
POST-MATCH STATEMENTS
“After Saturday’s match, we spoke about how important it is to learn from our mistakes as a team,” Sergio Navarro began. “We played our football at an incredible stadium, and the lads carried out our instructions very well. I’m really happy because the result rewarded all the hard work they put in on the pitch. They are taking on board the messages we are giving them and understand that they all need one another out there. We took a huge step forward against an excellent side, and all the credit goes to the players.”
“First and foremost, I’m delighted with the victory, but also with my goal in such a unique atmosphere. Playing at stadiums like this is a dream and I still can’t believe it,” said an emotional Federico Colombo. “We need to keep going down this path and always play like this. It was a very intense match and we never gave up. We came away with the win, and that was what mattered.”
MATCH DETAILS
EVERTON U21 1-2 MILAN FUTURO
EVERTON U21 (4-2-3-1): Pickford; Finney, Gardner, Thomas, Carrington (64' Van Schoor); Foster, Brookes (65' Lambert); Moses (46' Matos), Patterson (84' Aduda), Graham; Loney (84' Benjamin). Subs: Barnsley; Evans. Coach: Hughes.
MILAN FUTURO (4-2-3-1): Pittarella; Colombo (74' Cappelletti), Piermarini, Pagliei, Borsani (74' Idrissi); Mancioppi (66' Menon), Pandolfi, Plazzotta; Ossola, Balentien (49' Castiello), Guernier (66' Perera). Subs: Faccioli; Zukić. Coach: Navarro.
Referee: Carl Baker.
Goals: 26' Colombo (MF), 57' Graham (E), 77' Ossola (MF).
Booked: 50' Loney (E), 61' Colombo (MF), 66' Foster (E), 80' Patterson (E).
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