VICTORY AND QUALIFICATION FOR THE PRIMAVERA: 2‑1 IN ZAGREB
Youth Teams
It was a historic afternoon for AC Milan's Primavera side: Abate's boys beat Dinamo 2-1 in Zagreb to advance to the UEFA Youth League knockout phase for the second time in the club's history. The final game of Group E will determine the next step: the Rossoneri will only need a draw, at the PUMA House of Football against FC Salzburg, to go straight into the Round of 16, skipping the play-offs - for the runners-up - against one of the eight teams from the Champions path.
It was one goal in each half to sign the success of Abate's team: Jordan Longhi broke the deadlock in the first half an hour, while a penalty 13 minutes from the end by Gabriele Alesi - captain for the day - helped the Rossoneri regain the lead after Dinamo's equaliser through Šakota. The Rossoneri thus achieved, with merit and personality, their first aim of the season and look with renewed confidence to their upcoming matches, starting with Sunday's league match away at Torino. Well done lads!
CHECK OUT THE GALLERY FROM DINAMO ZAGREB v AC MILAN
MATCH REPORT
The Rossoneri looked dangerous after just 80 seconds when Stalmach's header was parried by Pršlja, the prelude to the first 10 minutes that saw Abate's team constantly in their opponents' half of the pitch. Dinamo defended neatly and tried to create an opportunity on Nava's side after 15 minutes, but did not offer any particularly threatening chances. In the 25th minute, AC Milan took the lead: a prolonged move ended with Simić's assist for Longhi who, from 15 yards out, beat Pršlja with a precise right-footed shot. The hosts' reaction was immediate and they found an equaliser. In the 29th minute, after Rukavina's cross from the left, Nava could not hold off and Šakota took advantage to make it 1-1. The goal galvanised the Croatians, who went close to doubling their tally on two occasions, first when Nava blocked Brkljača's attempt on 34 minutes, then on 37 minutes, forcing a double save on the line by Paloschi. The last thrust of the first half favoured the Rossoneri, when in the 42nd minute Traorè made his way down the left and got a left-footed shot away.
The second half began at a much slower pace than the first: neither of the first attempts by the Croatians, with Topić on 49 minutes and Brkljača on 55 minutes, managed to bother Nava. Coach Abate tried to change the direction of the match with substitutions, following Bakoune's introduction at half-time by sending on Gala and Scotti. It was these two who changed the match in the 76th minute. The former assisted the latter, who was brought down in the box by the Croatian defence: it was a penalty for AC Milan, and from the spot a composed Alesi dispatched the penalty kick to restore the Rossoneri's lead. The hosts felt the blow and Abate's team continued to attack in search of the goal that would secure qualification. In the 82nd minute Gala tried but his shot was blocked; four minutes later Alesi progressed up the pitch but his right-footed shot missed the target. Not much excitement in the final minutes, and the final whistle concluded a 2-1 win for the Rossoneri.
MATCH DETAILS
GNK DINAMO ZAGREB 1-2 AC MILAN
GNK DINAMO ZAGREB (4-3-3): Pršlja; Gubijan, Katinić, Živković, Ruškovački (83' Majdandžić); Krdžalić, Brkljača (73' Kanižaj), Lukanić (83' Ilečić); Topić (83' Gurlica), Šakota (73' Vrbančić), Rukavina. Subs: Klarin; Tonon. Coach: Senzen.
AC MILAN (4-3-3): Nava; Simić (46' Bakoune), Paloschi, Nsiala, Bozzolan; Stalmach (66' Gala), Eletu, Zeroli; Alesi (93' Parmiggiani), Longhi (88' Mangiameli), Traorè (66' Scotti). Subs: Torriani; Pluvio. Coach: Abate.
Referee: Nathan Verboomen (Belgium).
Goals: 25' Longhi (M), 29' Šakota (D), 77' pen. Alesi (M).
Booked: 9' Nsiala (M), 39' Traorè (M), 45'+2 Paloschi (M), 50' Gubijan (D), 56' Šakota (D), 59' Lukanić (D), 64' Stalmach (M), 90' Bakoune (M), 93' Gala (M).
Tickets are available for AC Milan v FC Salzburg and AC Milan v Spezia: see you at San Siro!
