EL HILALI SEALS COMEBACK: PRIMAVERA WIN 2‑1
Youth Teams
The victory that was needed, at the right time. The Primavera won their third consecutive home match in the league and continue to rise up the table. The 2-1 victory over Torino - thanks to El Hilali's brace - is the perfect example of this team's spirit: a comeback of heart, of personality, but above all of style. After going behind early in the 4th minute through Dell'Acqua's penalty, Abate's team kept Torino penned in for the rest of the game, equalising in the 60th minute and finding the winning goal through a penalty kick in the 95th minute, again through Youns.
The difficult start, which could have discouraged them, was instead the shock that woke up the Rossoneri, who played with intent and belief, until the last minute when Jordan Longhi won the penalty kick that decided the game. There was no better way to prepare for the Final Four of the Youth League, which for AC Milangets underway on Friday with the semi-final at 18:00 CEST against Hajduk Split. Best!
LOOK: THE GALLERY FROM AC MILAN V TORINO
MATCH REPORT
The Rossoneri started poorly in the 3rd minute they conceded a penalty kick to the visitors: Njie took advantage of a misunderstanding between Nsiala and Nava and went down after contact with the goalkeeper. Dell'Acqua converted from the spot. This produced a reaction, which produced its first chance on 8 minutes, when Nsiala himself missed from El Hilali's free-kick from a few yards out. Youns went close to scoring in the 12th minute when, found by Bozzolan, his shot was blocked by Makadji. It was all AC Milan: El Hilali was the protagonist in two other chances in the first half, a low shot parried by Passador in the 30th minute and a left-footer which he sent over in the 38th minute, after good work from Stalmach.
In the second half, Scurto's Torino remained on the defensive while AC Milan pushed on in search of an equaliser, which arrived in the 60th minute thanks to El Hilali: The ball fell to the Rossoneri's number 10, who slotted home to make it 1-1. It was a goal that spurred AC Milan on, and on 65 minutes Zeroli tried a left-footed effort from the edge of the box, the ball going inches wide. The waves of attack got their reward in the 95th minute with the penalty kick won by Longhi, who shielded the ball and was fouled by the defender: from the penalty spot El Hilali slotted home to seal a deserved 2-1 win. The final whistle came to the delight of the Rossoneri, and that was that!
POST-MATCH THOUGHTS
Ignazio Abate:"We played really well, the boys did not lose their bearings after the early goal. We created four or five good chances immediately, we came back well in the second half and we dominated for 90 minutes. Luckily the penalty came at the end, Youns showed a lot of character as there was real pressure. I'm happy for the team because they work hard every day, every week, sometimes we don’t quite get the luck but today we got three well-deserved points."
MATCH DETAILS
AC MILAN 2-1 TORINO
MILAN (4-3-3): Nava; Casali (86' Simić), Coubis, Nsiala, Bozzolan; Victor, Stalmach (46' Foglio), Zeroli (90' Longhi); Cuenca, El Hilali, Sia (82' Alesi). Subs: Bartoccioni, Pseftis; Andrews, Bartesaghi, D'Alessio, Paloschi; Malaspina; Capone, Traorè. Coach: Abate.
TORINO (4-3-1-2): Passador; Dembelé, Anton, Makadji, Opoku (46'); Savva (90' Barzago), Ruszel, Antolini; Silva (54' Ciammaglichella); Dell'Aquila (54' Ansah) (73' Capac), Njie. Subs: Brezzo, Servalli; Gaj, Wade, Rettore, Corona, Vaiarelli, Ruiz, Marchioro. Coach: Scurto.
Referee: Panettella from Bari.
Goals: 4' pen. Dell'Aquila (T), 60' El Hilali (M), 95' pen. El Hilali (M).
Bookings: 27' Makadji (T), 47' Opoku (T), 71' Ansah (T), 74' Coubis (M).
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