EL HILALI MAGIC GIVES AC MILAN THE WIN AT THE MAZZA

The Playoff dream continues thanks to another free-kick. AC Milan Primavera come away victorious from the Paolo Mazza in Ferrare, beating SPAL 1-0 with a wonderful Youns El Hilali free-kick eight minutes from full-time. A deserved victory for the Rossoneri, who grew in tone and performance during the second half, in a direct clash for the top six places, those of the Final Phase of the Primavera 1 championship: The gap to 6th place, the last position for the Playoffs, is now only one point.

After a slow first half, with only one chance for each side, the Rossoneri took control of the match by imposing their game on their opponents and thus gaining their first away win since 23 January. Match winner El Hilali will grab the headlines for his free-kick, in a repeat of Olzer's feat against Lazio, but there were also many good performances among the Rossoneri: The entire defence, from Jungdal between the posts to the Coubis-Michelis-Obaretin-Oddi backline, but also the unselfish Saco in midfield and Capone up front. The next match for the Rossoneri will be against Bologna, next Saturday at 17:00 CEST at Vismara.

MATCH REPORT
Coach Giunti made a few changes to the side that started the win against Lazio, with El Hilali returning from the start, and Oddi and Tolomello being chosen into the starting eleven. The match began at a slow pace at the Paolo Mazza, with few chances for either team in the first half-hour: Jungdal had to be attentive to keep out Moro in the 18th minute, before the Rossoneri came close at the other end in the 22nd minute, as Galeotti came out to deal with an Oddi cross that was destined for Saco. The highlight of the first half came in the 36th minute, with a great chance at each end of the pitch within 60 seconds of each other: The Rossoneri struck the crossbar with a splendid right footed shot from distance by Capone – who was called into the starting eleven at the last moment due to an injury to Roback while warming up – before the hosts responded on the counter with Moro whose shot went just inches wides of the post.

The second half was much different, mainly thanks to the Rossoneri, who were much more incisive and proactive. Some great drive by Capone in the 52nd minute ended with him setting up Olzer in the middle, who shot over. A minute later, the Estensi responded with Ellertsson, but Jungdal was again attentive and responded well, parrying low to the ground. From then it was practically all AC Milan: A nice triangle of passes between Olzer and El Hilali in the 62nd minute ended with Galeotti denying Jack; On 68 minutes, the newly entered Robotti engaged the goalkeeper with a vicious effort from the edge of the box; Mionić tried his luck from 25 metres out in the 73rd minute, just wide. The goal was in the air and it arrived in the 82nd minute with a piece of magic from El Hilali: a splendid free-kick which the goalkeeper could do nothing about. SPAL felt the blow, and the Rossoneri came close to a second in injury time with Bright, but it finished 1-0.

QUOTES
"It was a hard-fought game, played on equal terms in the first half while in the second we came out on top: I think the result is deserved, we believed in ourselves until the end", said Coach Federico Giunti after today’s match at the Mazza. "I am very satisfied with the boys’ performance. Today we won as a team: It’s not just the boys who played today, but match after match we show that we are a cohesive group, who fight together and help each other. The results are the consequence of this, and this is all down to the boys, who work hard both during the week and in matches, where you can see the fruits of their labour. The win gives us the chance to extend our positive run and gives us encouragement to keep fighting right up until the end for a goal that is now within reach, that of the Playoffs. We will have to do everything we can to try and reach it”.

MATCH FACTS

SPAL 0-1 AC MILAN

SPAL (4-3-3): Galeotti; Yabre, Csinger, Peda, Savona (84' Zuberek); Attys (84' Iskra), Colyn (66' Piht), Ellertsson; Tunjov, Moro (79' Semprini), Seck. Subs.: Rigon, Alcides, Raitanen, Borsoi, Iskra, Mamas, Forapani, Fiori, Carrà. Coach: Scurto.

AC MILAN (4-3-2-1): Jungdal; Coubis, Michelis, Obaretin, Oddi; Saco (74' Bright), Tolomello (66' Robotti), Mionić; Olzer (66' N'Gbesso), El Hilali; Capone (88' Filì). Subs.: Moleri, Pseftis; Kerkez, Tahar, Cretti, Bright, Brambilla, Roback. Coach: Giunti.

Referee: Garofalo from Torre del Greco.
Goal: 82' El Hilali (M)
Booked: 17' Mionić (M), 33' Csinger (S), 59' Coubis (M), 80' Semprini (S), 87' Capone (M)

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