LAST‑GASP DRAW AT SAN SIRO
Serie A
Ultimately, it’s a point earned. At San Siro this evening, AC Milan played out a 1-1 draw against Udinese after scoring from the penalty spot with the last kick of the game. Indeed, Kessie converted from twelve yards out to salvage a point for the Rossoneri, who had fallen behind in the second half following Becão’s header and a below-par performance. Following their win at the Olimpico, it was surprising to see such a display from Stefano Pioli’s side, who lacked conviction and quality. Several important players were out, but this doesn’t fully explain the difficulties that AC Milan experienced. Nevertheless, the team fought until the end and managed to salvage something. As for the Bianconeri, they carried out their defensive duties well and attacked more in the second half, coming close to a big scalp. The Rossoneri now sit on 53 points in the league and have narrowly closed the gap to first place, although Juve, Atalanta and Roma have gained ground. Next up for the Diavolo is a trip to the Bentegodi to face Hellas Verona at 15:00 CET on Sunday 7 March.
CHECK OUT THE GALLERY FROM AC MILAN V UDINESE
THE REPORT
Leão up front, Kalulu at full-back and starts for Díaz and Castillejo: these were the main changes made to the Rossoneri’s starting line-up this evening. AC Milan controlled possession early on against a deep-lying Udinese side that were making it difficult to find the space to attack. The first shot of the game didn’t come until the 19th minute, when Díaz called Musso into action. In an uneventful half, the chances that did come along fell to the Rossoneri. In the 38th minute, Leão’s acrobatic attempt landed in Musso’s arms. A minute later, the Argentine goalkeeper stuck out a foot to deny Castillejo following some fancy footwork by the Spaniard. Half-time.
Stefano Pioli made a change at the break, bringing on Meïte for Tonali. With the ball rolling again at San Siro, Udinese had the first big chance of the second half: after a mistake by Hernández at the back, Romagnoli came to the rescue, clearing Nestorovski’s header off the line. More was starting to happen: in the 51st minute, Meïte’s strike from distance was tipped over by Musso; then, the Udinese shot-stopper dived to his left to keep out a Kessie header. With 68 minutes on the clock, the visitors took the lead, with Becão nodding past an uncertain Donnarumma from a corner. The Bianconeri finished the match with ten men following Samir’s injury (they’d used up all their substitutions). However, the Rossoneri failed to really create anything of note until they were given a last-gasp spot-kick following a handball by Stryger Larsen. Kessie then stepped up to score from the penalty spot in the 97th minute, allowing AC Milan to come away with a point.
MATCH DETAILS
AC MILAN 1-1 UDINESE
AC MILAN (4-2-3-1): G. Donnarumma; Kalulu (63' Calabria), Kjær, Romagnoli, Hernández; Tonali (46' Meïte), Kessie; Castillejo (75' Saelemaekers), Díaz (63' Hauge), Rebić; Leão. Subs: A. Donnarumma, Tătărușanu; Dalot, Gabbia, Tomori; Krunić. Coach: Pioli.
UDINESE (3-5-2): Musso; Becão, Bonifazi, Nuytinck; Molina, De Paul, Arslan (71' Walace), Makengo (56' Llorente), Zeegelaar (71' Stryger Larsen); Pereyra (82' Samir), Nestorovski. Subs: Gasparini, Scuffet; De Maio, Ouwejan; Mićin; Braaf, Okaka. Coach: Gotti.
Referee: Massa from Imperia.
Goals: 68' Becão (U), 97' pen. Kessie (M).
Booked: 24' Rebić (M), 32' Hernández (M), 53' Zeegelaar (U), 92' Romagnoli (M), 93' Kessie (M).
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