ROSSONERI STUNNED BY SPEZIA
Serie A
It could've been the perfect chance to reinstil some confidence but instead, it ended in defeat. AC Milan were beaten 2-0 at the Stadio Picco, which puts Champions League qualification in greater doubt and wasn't what we needed ahead of the second leg of the derby. The Aquilotti scored both of their goals in the final quarter of an hour, through Wiśniewski and Esposito. Though not at their best, the Rossoneri came close to taking the lead through Tonali and Díaz, both of whom hit the post.
The numerous absences, which were added to at the last minute in the shape of Krunić and Messias, had an inevitable impact on the performance of the team, who only showed brief flashes of their quality and largely struggled to overcome the Spezia defence. This was AC Milan's eighth league defeat of the season, breaking a run of seven games without defeat in Serie A. The task now is to recover form and fitness, utilise the support of the fans (who travelled to Liguria in numbers) and prepare for the second leg of the semi-final on Tuesday as best possible. Forza Milan!
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MATCH REPORT
Spezia changed tactics and lined up with a five-man defence, but it was the Rossoneri who dominated early proceedings. After six minutes, they came close to opening the scoring from Tonali’s effort from the edge of the box that smacked against the post, after a strong run forward by the midfielder. The game was an open-end affair, but with us in control of the game: Alexis didn’t connect with his shot perfectly as Kjær was just inches away from deflecting it goalbound after 20 minutes. Drągowski made an excellent fingertip save from Theo’s stinging drive on 24 minutes, which sounded the alarm bells for the home side who from thereon in picked up and pushed further forward: after 27 minutes, an unmarked Amian headed over from a great position in front of goal, and two minutes later Reca did well to make an opening but was superbly stopped by Tomori. Drągowski did well again on 36 minutes after Pobega’s left-footed effort from distance was retrieved at the second attempt, after an awkward bounce of the ball in front of him.
AC Milan started the second half in the right manner, despite Bourabia’s right-footed strike going high. After 56 minutes, Brahim hit the post a second time for the visitors with his right from a tight angle that surprised the home side’s keeper. Three minutes later, Pobega also had a good chance rising above everyone from Sandro’s corner, but headed over. Spezia responded and called Maignan into action on two occassions in quick succession: first, he stopped from Nzola and then Ekdal. The Ligurians kept pushing forward and eventually took the lead after 75 minutes: Esposito’s corner was headed against the post by Amian but the ball fell kindly to Wiśniewski who poked it home past Mike from just a few yards out. The Rossoneri immediately piled the pressure on to get back into the game but it was Spezia who struck again from another dead-ball situation: Esposito perfectly placing his free-kick into the top right-hand corner of the goal to make it 2-0 and clinch victory.
MATCH DETAILS
SPEZIA 2-0 AC MILAN
SPEZIA (5-3-2): Drągowski; Amian, Ampadu, Wiśniewski, Nikolaou, Reca; Esposito, Ekdal, Bourabia (63' Żurkowski); Nzola, Gyasi (93' Kovalenko). Subs.: Marchetti, Zoet; Caldara, Ferrer; Cipot; Krollis, Shomurodov, Verde. Coach: Semplici.
AC MILAN (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Kalulu, Kjær, Tomori, Hernández (64' Ballo-Touré); Tonali, Pobega; Saelemaekers (64' De Ketelaere), Díaz (71' Adli), Origi; Rebić (71' Giroud). Subs.: Mirante, Tătăruşanu; Calabria, Gabbia; Bakayoko, Vranckx. Coach: Pioli.
Referee: Doveri from Roma 1.
Goal: 75' Wiśniewski (S), 85' Esposito (S)
Booked: 38' Amian (S), 52' Díaz (M),
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