GENOA 1‑2 AC MILAN: BACK TO WINNING WAYS
Serie A
A passion-filled and victorious comeback on a night which could mark a real turning point for Milan. Coach Giampaolo’s side return from Genoa with three huge points, not only vital but won right at the death of a thrilling match full of big moments. It ended 2-1 to the Rossoneri at the Marassi, thanks to goals from Theo Hernández (his first in Serie A) and Franck Kessié, but also thanks to Reina’s last-minute penalty save which redeemed the veteran goalkeeper for his error in the first half. Giampaolo’s half-time changes succeeded in injecting life into the game after a mediocre first half, and the team showed a great reaction both as individuals and as a collective in securing the win after three consecutive losses in the league. At what seemed like the most difficult moment of them all, tonight Milan were able to pick themselves back up and turn the page for a new chapter this season. With this win at the Marassi the Rossoneri rise to nine points in the table, arriving at the international break with a positive result to hopefully mark the end of a previously torrid time. AC Milan’s next fixture will see them face Lecce at home, at San Siro on 20 October at 20:45 CEST.
CHECK OUT THE BEST PICTURES FROM GENOA V MILAN
MATCH REPORT
With Gigio injured in the warm-up, Reina stepped in to take his place, called into action immediately with a great save to keep Lerager out in the 7th minute. Theo’s burst forward in the 23rd minute then earned a tantalising free kick for Suso, who forced a save from Radu. Another chance came from the same duo in the 35th, as Theo played it in for Suso to shoot first time down the middle of the goal. Piątek then set Kessié on his right in the 36th minute, but the Ivorian couldn’t find the target. Reina came up with two big saves against Ghiglione and Pajac in the following minutes, but misjudged Schöne’s free kick in the 41st and allowed the home side to take the lead. A double change for the Rossoneri at half time saw Piątek and Çalhanoğlu leave the pitch, replaced by the lively pair of Leão and Paquetá. After this, it didn’t take long for Milan to equalise. Paquetá’s smart quick free kick set Hernández free, and the left-back drove to the byline and fired the ball past Radu at his near post in the 51st minute. Then, after a VAR check in the 54th minute, Milan were awarded a penalty with Biraschi sent off for handball in the area: Kessié sent Radu the wrong way and the comeback was complete for the Rossoneri. Leão got close to the third in the 67th, receiving it from Kessié in the area and skipping past Ghighlione but sending his shot straight at Radu. However, Milan didn’t make it easy for themselves, also going down to ten men in the 79th minute as Calabria received a second yellow after a shirt-pull on Kouamé. There was still more drama to come, as with just a minute of regular time left to play, Reina brought down Kouamé in the area and the referee blew for a Genoa penalty. Schöne stepped up, but in an instant Reina turned himself from zero to hero as he dived to his right and did superbly to keep the penalty out, securing an ever so important victory for the Rossoneri.
MATCH DETAILS
GENOA 1-2 AC MILAN
GENOA (3-5-2): Radu; Romero, Zapata, Criscito (11' Biraschi); Ghiglione, Lerager, Radovanovic, Schöne, Pajač; Kouamé, Pinamonti (73' Favilli). Subs.: Marchetti, Jandrei; Goldaniga, Sanabria, El Yamiq, Jagiełło, Pandev, Cassata, Ankersen, Saponara. Coach: Andreazzoli
AC MILAN (4-3-3): Reina; Calabria, Duarte, Romagnoli, Hernández; Kessié, Biglia, Çalhanoğlu (46' Paquetá); Suso, Piątek (46' Leão), Bonaventura (81' Conti). Subs.: Donnarumma A.; Gabbia, Rodríguez; Bennacer, Krunić; Borini, Castillejo, Rebić. Coach: Giampaolo
Referee: Mariani from Rome.
Goals: 41' Schöne (G), 51' Hernández (M), 57' pen. Kessié (M).
Booked: 23' Zapata (G), 43' Calabria (M), 62' Biglia (M), 64' Lerager (G), 67' Schöne (G), 84' Paquetá (M), 88' Romero (G).
Sent off: 48' Saponara (G) from the bench, 56' Biraschi (G), 79' Calabria (M), 94' Castillejo (M) from the bench.
