PRIMAVERA INTO THE QUARTERS OF THE YOUTH LEAGUE
Youth Teams
AC Milan Primavera rewrite history: Ignazio Abate's boys beat Ukrainian side FC Ruh Lviv 1-0 to advance to the UEFA Youth League quarter-finals, where they will meet - in Milan - the winner of Atlético Madrid and Genk on 14 or 15 March. Deciding a balanced and exciting match, but deservedly won by the Rossoneri, was a great goal in the 86th minute by Kevin Zeroli, who scored his first goal of the season. It was an important result for our youth sector, as it is the first time AC Milan have reached the last eight in a European competition.
In front of packed stands at the PUMA House of Football - with CEO Furlani, Technical Area Director Maldini and Sport Director Massara all in attendance - the Rossoneri continued their excellent European season with their fifth win in seven matches this season at continental level. An afternoon that went down to the wire with a fine team performance, against a good opponent who had eliminated Inter in the previous round. From the defence, attentive and unbeatable over 90 minutes, to the attack, the Rossoneri showed several improvements that will have to be continued in the next league matches, starting on Sunday 5th with the away match against Cagliari.
CHECK OUT THE GALLERY FROM AC MILAN v FC RUH LVIV
MATCH REPORT
A welcome message read in Ukrainian by Andriy Shevchenko opened the afternoon at the PUMA House of Football. The first chance came for the Rossoneri: Traorè's free kick in the 4th minute, Zeroli's header but the ball went over the crossbar. 12 minutes in Stalmach tried a powerful right-footer from the edge of the box, Hereta parried. Dariusz then came close again but to no avail. In the 18th minute a good set piece ended with Foglio, whose right-footer from the edge of the box grazed the post. After the first 20 minutes the chances were few and far between, with Ruh Lviv having a goal ruled out for offside. In the 38th minute, El Hilali had a gp, his right-footer powerful but too high. The last chance of the first half went to the guests, but Panchenko's shot went wide.
First chance of the second half came in the 53rd minute, Traorè's run but his shot finished wide. The pace was slower than at the start, the Rossoneri with lots of possession without, however, managing to find gaps in the host's tight defence. In the 81st minute, Traorè again had a good chance when he headed Bozzolan's cross but failed to hit the target. As the prospect of penalty kicks approached, AC Milan broke the deadlock: 86 minutes, a fine move developed centrally by Stalmach, who passed to Bakoune, Adam's cross for Zeroli, whose finish beat Hereta. 60 seconds later Nava had to react to the visitors' immediate response. It was the last action of the match: it ended 1-0 to AC Milan Primavera!
MATCH DETAILS
AC MILAN 1-0 FC RUH LVIV
AC MILAN (4-3-3): Nava; Bakoune, Coubis, Simić, Bozzolan; Foglio, Stalmach, Zeroli; Traorè (92' Alesi), Longhi (62' Cuenca), El Hilali (94' Bartesaghi). Subs: Bartoccioni; Bartesaghi, Nsiala; Malaspina; Mangiameli. Coach: Abate.
FC RUH LVIV (4-2-3-1): Hereta; Kitela (76' Botskiv), Sliubyk, Kholod, Roman; Sapuha (87' Kvas), Pidhurskyi; Dobrianskyi (82' Kasarda), Rusiak, Stoliarchuk; Panchenko. Subs: Vanivskyi; Tovarnytskyi, Boiko, Mykhalchuk. All.: Ponomarov.
Referee: Ciochirca (Austria).
Goal: 41'st Zeroli (M).
Booked: 9' Roman (RL), 28' Bakoune (M), 40' Rusiak (RL), 54' Foglio (M), 65' Sliubyk (RL).
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