PRIMAVERA BEATEN BY VERONA IN THE 94TH MINUTE
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2023 would have deserved a better ending, but it finished off with a defeat to Verona. A difficult game with misfortune from the start that also saw a courageous comeback before the mockery at the end. It was Traorè from a free kick and Simmelhack with an excellent back-heel and in the final minutes the chances they created incredibly made it seem like they could even win. Instead, a counterattack in the final minute gifted the visitors the 2-3, after having scored through Diao and Agbonifo in the first half but also missed a penalty.
There are regrets, but also an awareness that the team were able to find the strength and character to get back in the game, despite their absences, after seeming like it was done for in the first half an hour. Many players knew how to adapt themselves to a different position, leaving everything on the pitch with energy and sacrifice. Inevitably, the defeat stings, the draw would have been deserved but paradoxically, Abate’s squad emerges from this game stronger, more convincing, and more mature. Mistakes were made and will be made again, but with this spirit, everything is possible.
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MATCH REPORT
The first chance of the game came for the Rossoneri, Cuenca picked up the corner kick from Sala but was stopped in his tracks by Toniolo. Hellas Verona picked up speed and created a good chance for Ajayi that was saved by Raveyre. The visitor advantage came in the 18th minute through Diao who got a precise header on the cross from Rigo. AC Milan Primavera responded vehemently, Scotti hit the inside post and brought them close to an equaliser. At the half-hour mark, Agbonifo doubled the lead after coming on as a substitute, beating Raveyre to make it 2-0. The Veronesi had the chance to shut it all down at the end of the half when a handball from Amaral saw them given a penalty: Diao stepped up to take it, Raveyre guessed where it would go but the ball hit the woodwork. The first 45 minutes ended 0-2.
The second half began with Camarda and Perina coming on the pitch, but also with a nice shot from Sala that Toniolo sent out for a corner. The visitors were dangerous yet again and Malaspina’s block in the 52nd minute was key in avoiding a third goal. In difficulty, the faith increased: Cuenca tried it twice first with his head then with his left foot with a shot that flew just wide. In the 64th minute, Chaka pulled one back from a free kick. The Rossoneri believed and managed to bag another, a bit of magic from Simmelhack made it 2-2. His backheel deflected Scotti’s shot into the net and sent Toniolo the wrong way. AC Milan came close to scoring again twice in the final minutes with Liberali. They were punished with the final action of the game, however, as Dentale broke through the defensive line to beat Raveyre one-on-one. It ended 2-3.
MATCH DETAILS
AC MILAN 2-3 HELLAS VERONA
AC MILAN (4-3-3): Raveyre; Amaral (46' Perina), Parmiggiani, Malaspina, Magni (77' Paloschi); Cuenca, Sala, Bonomi (46' Camarda); Scotti, Sia (82' Liberali), Traorè (73' Simmelhack). Subs: Colzani, Torriani; Perera, Tezzele; Martinazzi. Coach: Abate.
HELLAS VERONA (3-5-2): Toniolo; Nwanege, Calabrese, Corradi; Patanè, Aimen (80' Dalla Riva), D'Agostino, Ajayi (80' Dentale), Rigo; Cisse (87' Szimionas), Diao. Subs: Castagnini, Marchetti; Agbonifo, De Battisti, Doucouré, Fagoni, Pavanati, Vermesan. Coach: Sammarco.
Referee: Silvestri.
Goals: 18' Diao (V), 30' Agbonifo (V), 64' Traorè (M), 84' Simmelhack (M), 95' Dentale (V).
Bookings: 32' Cisse (V), 70' Magni (M), 87' Calabrese (V).
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