HOME DEFEAT IN THE DERBY
Serie A
Pride and a late push weren't enough for AC Milan. The Rossoneri fought until the final whistle but couldn't break their derby-day hoodoo as they lost on Serie A matchday 33. It ended 2-1 with Tomori pulling one back after Acerbi and Thuram scored in each half to hand our local rivals the league title. It's a tough one to take; there was no shortage of heart but the outcome was similar to recent derbies. The Nerazzurri were clinical, while the Rossoneri had swathes of possession but came away empty-handed.
The support from the home fans was non-stop and the team tried until the very end to repay them with an equaliser. The three points ended up in the hands of a team that very much knows its own ability, even despite the Rossoneri's hunger and the tactical changes made by Stefano Pioli. Getting over this disappointment and starting over with strength is the only way forward. Up next, we have a tough away test against Juventus on Saturday, which leads into a run-in that we have to face with pride in order to finish the season on a high. Forza Milan.
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MATCH REPORT
It was a cagey start, with both sides studying each other early on, but there was no lack of intensity. The first chance came to the visitors, with Darmian squaring for Martínez, but his shot went high over the bar after eight minutes. The Rossoneri reacted through Reijnders’ right-footed effort that was blocked before the ball dropped for Hernández, who dragged his left-footed shot wide on 14 minutes. The Nerazzurri went ahead from a set-piece in the 18th minute: Dimarco's corner in saw Pavard flick the ball on at the near post and Acerbi was unmarked in the six-yard-box to head home. Martínez wasted a good chance in the 25th minute, before the Rossoneri broke on the counter with Musah only for Leão's left-footed shot to be kept out by Sommer in the 29th minute. The closing stages of the half were fast-paced and end to end. In the 38th minute, Barella picked out Thuram in the box and the Frenchman's shot clipped the post, and then two minutes later Calabria turned Musah's cross goalbound, but Sommer’s quick reactions saved the day for the Nerazzurri. Half time.
The half got off to worse start for the Rossoneri. In the 49th minute, Thuram cut inside from the left and fired low into the bottom corner at the near post to surprise Maignan and get his, and the game’s, second goal. AC Milan responded immediately with Theo's thundering left-footed piledriver, taking a slight deflection off Pulisic, which Sommer saved. Inter sat in and got everyone behind the ball, while the Rossoneri kept a high line, but failed to create many clear-cut chances. Substitutions failed to make any significant impact on the game. In the 74th minute, Leão slotted Pulisic through, but he failed to hit the target from a central position. The Rossoneri continued to push forward though. The home faithful at San Siro eventually rose to its feet in the 80th minute, when Leão played a ball back across goal for Gabbia, whose header was kept out by Sommer with the help of the post, but Tomori was the quickest to react and turned it home to make it 2-1. The final stages saw a siege from the home side, but their efforts were sadly not rewarded. Full time.
MATCH DETAILS
AC MILAN 1-2 INTER
AC MILAN (3-5-2): Maignan; Calabria, Gabbia, Tomori, Hernández; Adli (68' Bennacer), Reijnders (52' Giroud); Musah (77' Okafor), Loftus-Cheek (68' Chukwueze), Pulisic; Leão. Subs: Nava, Sportiello; Caldara, Florenzi, Terracciano; Jović. Coach: Pioli.
INTER (3-5-2): Sommer; Pavard, Acerbi, Bastoni (88' de Vrij); Darmian (83' Dumfries), Barella (77' Frattesi), Çalhanoğlu (83' Asllani), Mkhitaryan, Dimarco (77' Carlos Augusto); Thuram, Martínez. Subs: Audero, Di Gennaro; Bisseck, Buchanan, Cuadrado; Klaassen, Sensi; Arnautović, Sánchez. Coach: Inzaghi.
Referee: Colombo from Como.
Goals: 18' Acerbi (I), 49' Thuram (I), 80' Tomori (M).
Booked: 22' Barella (I), 32' Martínez (I), 36' Hernández (M), 88' Inzaghi (I), 90' Gabbia (M), 90'+2 Tomori (M).
Sent off: 90'+3 Hernández (M), 90'+3 Dumfries (I), 90'+7 Calabria (M).
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