This match exceeded expectations for a lot of us. But within the match, there were many important life lessons. Like if you're going to score an incredible goal, have your arms surgically removed first so that VAR cannot find a frame where the ball brushes your arm. If you're on a yellow card, you'd better hope that the ref cannot count to two. But Manchester United learned the toughest of the important life lessons: Never let a Viking in the box.
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| Never let a Viking in the box |
Leao kicked off the match with a goal in the fifth minute that was called back for offside. Then Martial took one of two shots on target for Manchester United, forcing Gigio to tip it over the bar. Krunic took a shot that was well wide, and then in the 11th minute, Kessie scored an incredible goal... that was also called back for the ball apparently brushing his arm in one frame of one of many camera angles. Life lesson: you wanted VAR to ref more precisely, then this is what you get. A shame, it was a great goal.
Milan dominated most of the first half. Saelemaekers got a yellow for a dumb foul on Telles. But the most incredible part was when in the 38th, the ball was loose and fell to Maguire just a few feet away from an open net, he hit the post with a point blank shot. Life lesson: don't miss the most obvious of chances.
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| They still couldn't hold him |
The second half kicked off, and Solskjær wisely subbed Amad Diallo on. Five minutes later, it paid off, as he found plenty of space when Fernandes sent the ball in for him, and headed it in past Gigio while turning. 1-0 Manchester United. It was a brilliant goal, but it hurt after Milan had played so well with so many players out injured, and had not one, but two goals disallowed. Life lesson: When playing in Europe, watch out for players who have played in Italy.
Manchester United woke up with that goal, and started playing their game. Which apparently is to foul at all costs. McTominay got a yellow card for impeding the keeper as Gigio tried to quickly send the ball forward. Then Wan-Bissaka pulled Brahim down in the box, which looked more like child abuse than a foul, yet was still not called. After two precise calls to take both goals away from Milan, Vincic played the part of the blind ref in the second half. Life lesson: players who cannot play will use brute force.
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| The amazing Tomori |
Krunic, fresh off of the high of his amazing free kick on Sunday, sent another shot into the stands and then sent a great chance of a header just over the bar in the 64th. His overconfidence seemed to work against him and against Milan for this one. James pulled a Maguire in the 72nd, completely missing an even more open net. After watching Solskjaer make a triple change in the 73rd, just to show that he had enough players on the bench to do so, Calabria picked up an injury, so Kalulu replaced him in the 74th. Milan's life lesson: When most of your best players are injured, another starter is bound to be injured, too.
Despite a second half where Milan spent a lot more time defending, as the clock ticked down, their determination rose. Manchester United seemed fine just to sit back and defend, or to be unsporting, like when Tonali was taken out by Amad Diallo, and Shaw tried to pull his whole body up while he was in pain. Or when McTominay fouled Krunic, but the ref couldn't count to two and hand him his second yellow card. But luckily, Karma and Kjaer intervened. From what was likely to be the last play of the game, Milan's corner was sent in on a wing and a prayer, and met by the header of our Viking defender, Kjaer. Henderson didn't stand a chance. 1-1 all. Life lesson: never let a Viking in the box.
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| When a draw is like a win |
Milan played with the determination of our "Sunday Squad." They fought fiercely and never stopped believing. They learned important life lessons about calls going against you, about not getting the calls you deserved, and having goals called back. But at least they knew to put their Viking in the box on the last play of the game. Kjaer's first goal meant more than just a very valuable away goal, it was deserved and celebrated by the entire team. Because the most important life lesson we learned in this match is to never give up.
This post inspired by the music of Muse's "Assassin"
Reviewed by Elaine
on
1:40 PM
Rating:
