AC MILAN WOMEN SCRAPE THROUGH: 3‑2 AT GENOA
Women
At the Sciorba Stadium in Genoa, Suzanne Bakker's AC Milan earned a gritty qualification to the next round: a 2–3 win over Sebastián De la Fuente's Genoa and a hard-fought pass to the Coppa Italia Women quarter-finals. After a first half dominated by the Rossonere, with close-range goals from Ijeh and Kyvåg, the Ligurian side changed gear after the break, pulling one back through Söndergaard and drawing level with Hilaj. But the decisive touch comes from an unexpected source: Angelica Soffia stepped up to score the winning goal. A valuable, reactionary victory, both in a match that was slipping away and following the heavy derby defeat, with an inspired Van Dooren pulling the strings between the lines and setting the tempo with her bursts forward.
A nerve-racking win and a clear message: this AC Milan side knows how to suffer and strike at key moments. Compact lines, clean counterattacks, and good emotional control in the closing stages, when Soffia converted yet another Van Dooren corner. Kyvåg and Ijeh also impressed, posing a constant threat to the Rossoblù defence. Now, it is time for the winter break, and then attention turns back to the league: when play resumes, AC Milan will travel to Parma. As for the Coppa Italia, the Rossonere will face Fiorentina in the two-legged quarter-finals.
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MATCH REPORT
At the Sciorba Stadium, AC Milan took control as early as the 15th minute: Kyvåg broke through on the left, sent in a long cross picked up by Park, who laid off for Van Dooren, but her right-footed effort from the penalty spot flew over the bar. In the 26th minute, a deep ball found its way to Van Dooren: the No. 10’s shot was blocked by Forcinella, and Ijeh pounced on the rebound to make it 0–1. Genoa responded in the 31st minute through Ferrara, whose central effort was comfortably saved by Giuliani. In the 34th minute, the Rossoblù lost possession in midfield; Van Dooren sparked a one-on-two situation, drove into the box and fed Kyvåg; Forcinella saved the first attempt, but the Norwegian tucked away the rebound for 0–2. In the 41st minute, Koivisto fired over from distance. AC Milan went into the break ahead.
The second half began at a gentle pace and seemed to follow the script of the first: AC Milan in control, Genoa pressing. In the 49th minute, Ijeh broke in behind, Forcinella stayed on her line, the Swede reached the edge of the six-yard box but fired straight at the Genoa keeper. A minute later, Park and Van Dooren took a short corner: the Dutch midfielder’s right-footed shot hit the outside of the net. In the 53rd minute, another Rossonere transition saw Van Dooren switch play to Kyvåg, who played it into Ijeh, but her effort sailed too high. Genoa got back into the game in the 56th minute as Söndergaard curled a right-footed strike into the top corner to make it 1–2. Now Genoa stepped it up and believed: in the 75th minute, from a corner, Hilaj rose highest to head home the equaliser for 2–2. In the 76th minute Bargi squandered a counterattack, and in the 78th it was Bargi again who shot wide. In the 81st minute, a deep corner from Van Dooren found Soffia at the far post; she rose and directed it in off the far upright to win the game 2–3.
MATCH DETAILS
GENOA 2-3 AC MILAN
GENOA (4-3-3): Forcinella; Acuti, Giles (63' Mele), Curraj, Vigilucci (86' Monterubbiano); Ferrara (86' Bettalli), Hilaj, Cuschieri (73' Massa); Söndergaard, Bargi, Bahr (46' Giacobbo). Subs: Marchetti; Lipman; Abate, Cinotti. Coach: De La Fuente.
AC MILAN (4-3-3): Giuliani; Koivisto, Soffia, Piga (66' De Sanders), Keijzer; Van Dooren, Arrigoni, Grimshaw; Park (82' Stokić), Ijeh, Kyvåg. Subs: Estévez Ogalla, Tornaghi; Donolato; Cesarini; Appiah. Coach: Bakker.
Referee: Papi from Prato.
Goals: 26' Ijeh (M), 34' Kyvåg (M), 56' Söndergaard (G), 75' Hilaj (G), 81' Soffia (M).
Booked: 90'+3 Arrigoni (M), 90'+5 Grimshaw (M), 90'+5 Giacobbo (G).
Sent-off: De La Fuente (G).
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