Nothing is coming easy for Milan right now, and this 2-0 win over Lecce was yet another example of that. Allegri lined up the same painful way and with the same tactics as last week's debacle vs. Cremonese. There were two disallowed goals, Allegri being Allegri, and Lecce actually threatening us a few times before we finally pulled it together and got a couple of goals that actually counted. But the disallowed goals were not the only time referee Marinelli had the spotlight, as he failed to stop the match as FIFA protocol requires when Camarda had a head injury. And the 17 year-old was pulled off at halftime and taken to the hospital for examination. But then there were the fans, a packed Via del Mare that seats 33,000, with our Curva Sud finally attending with their banners and in full voice. And the volume made for an intense atmosphere that was both fiery and yet welcoming and familiar. It was like coming home, even though Milan were actually away. All things considered, though, it was a brutal win.
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| Escaping the Via del Mare with a win in spite of an overall brutal performance. |
This was the first match we got to see the new AIA procedure of the referee announcing VAR decisions in the stadium. Luckily for those watching the World Feed with English commentary, our commentator was also a conference interpreter who was able to translate in real time the referee's statements. The first disallowed goal was in just the fourth minute, when Gabbia's header from a Modrić corner was cruelly taken from him after a VAR review indicated that he had fouled the Lecce just before scoring the goal. At least Marinelli actually went to the monitor to see for himself, but it remained a stalemate at 0-0. That deflated any offensive momentum from Milan, and the match turned into more of a brutal MMA match, with very few actual attempts at scoring made in the first half. And that was brutal, too.
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| Having this goal disallowed deflated the entire team. |
For example, in the 16th minute, Santi Gimenez had his eyes grabbed by his opponent. Camarda elbowed Gabbia, and in the 23rd minute, Saelemaekers was upset and tantrumming like a child because he was down in the box with no call. It kind of looked like he had slipped at first, but I think there may have been contact, just maybe not enough for a penalty.
It was in the 33rd, though, that Estupiñan crashed into Camarda, and the latter hit the ground pretty hard, too. Even if Camarda wasn't actually our player, I would have been screaming at my television when Marinella did not stop play for an obvious head injury, which is mandatory protocol for all referees everywhere at every level. I just probably screamed louder because it was our 17 year-old golden boy down on the ground. But Camarda was forced to get up, and being young, he did so instead of waiting for medical treatment.
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| Camarda deserves to play in Serie A, but his brain is still 17 years old and protocol should have been followed. |
He played until halftime, but at halftime, Di Francesco was asking him some questions and Camarda clearly had no memory of certain things in the match after the collison. So they rushed him to the hospital for tests and would sub on their brand new player, Štukić, who had barely been at the club for 48 hours. Initial reports said that Camarda's tests were "negative." I don't know what they were negative for, because he was diagnosed with head trauma, and as per FIFA's concussion protocol, he had to forego his call up for Italy's U21 side. I know we paid Lecce €75,000 for Camarda's appearance in this match, but no price is worth risking a player's health like that, and Marinelli should be held responsible for his negligence in handling the situation.
Loftus-Cheek actually attempted to dribble around the goalkeeper, but it did not go well, and he was also whistled for a handball leading up to that. But this was improvement. Two minutes later, Santi sent the ball across to Musah, who sent it in to Loftus-Cheek, who actually forced Falcone into a save. Lecce's two or three shots in the whole half were not on target, while both Saelemaekers and Santi had their shots blocked in stoppage time. Such a painful and brutal first half, just seemingly no learning curve shown by Allegri, and it seemed like this match might end like last week, against a weaker opponent.
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| VAR can be so unforgiving. |
Lecce started off the second half with more fire, and Kaba forced Maignan into a big save in the 49th minute. Saelemaekers ran into the advertising boards, flipped over and landed a bit surprised (and causing a bit of worry,) but he was able to shake off the injury and get back into the match. Playing in Leão's position was maybe not ideal, but his heart and grinta have been missed, and he has really become an important player already this season.
Santi Gimenez had a header saved in the 59th minute. Then he, too, scored, from a cross from Saelemaekers, only to see his goal called off as well after a VAR review using SAOT determined he was offside. Before the cruel call, though, he remembered to grab the Jashari shirt and dedicate the goal to him. Obviously, he would remember, Allegri made it a point to let the world know it was Santi who was involved in the unfortunate training accident. I am sure Santi feels awful, as every teammate would, but I have made it no secret whatsoever that I despise Allegri and think that he lacks all class and decency, too. So fitting for horrible luck of both players that the goal would be disallowed, the whole thing is awful.
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| The first of 15 goals Allegri asked of Loftus-Cheek and Fofana this season. |
The singular yellow card was given to Lecce's Gaspar for a foul on Saelemaekers, who clearly thought it should be a red, feeling like he had been in a goal-scoring situation. But I think Marinelli probably got it right with the yellow card only, although it is pretty surprising that it was the only card, given the brutality that played out during the match.
Things shifted positively for Milan, however, in the 66th minute, when Modrić would finally get his first assist, also proving that even Loftus-Cheek could score when he was sending the ball in. 1-0 Milan. Loftus-Cheek looked a little confused when he went to pat the crest on his kit, and there was just some Diavoletto logo, but that's on Puma. And that would be the first of the 15 goals Allegri has placed an expectation of the combination of Loftus-Cheek and Fofana. The not very football-intelligent people who vote for Serie A Player of the Match also awarded Loftus-Cheek that award. (Big man. Ugh. Score goal. Ugh. Give trophy. Ugh.) And that was great for him, I'm happy, but the Milan fanbase knew that Modrić was the actual MVP.
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| The actual MVP is frustratingly light years ahead of his teammates in a football sense. |
Fofana, realizing he also needed to contribute to the 15 goals Allegri expects, had an actual shot on target that was saved by Falcone in the 70th minute. And yet, there were still no subs from Allegri. Not a surprise, for those of us who remember his last stint at Milan, but disappointing, given that we already had four players injured or not able to start this match, and another player that he already chased out of the club. But he did manage to get it together and bring on the not fully fit Pulisic for Saelemaekers and Ricci to replace Loftus-Cheek in the 73rd minute.
Unfortunately, Lecce were getting some ideas around this time, and being only one down, it was brutal. In the 77th minute, Štulić forced Maignan into his only other save of the match. Gratefully, he chose to stay this summer. Then the substitute Ricci had his shot saved. Finally, in the 86th minute, with Maignan practically getting the assist, Pulisic scored the second goal with his sheer determination and winning mentality to dash the home fans' hopes. 2-0 Milan.
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| Lecce did not have an answer for Pulisic. |
Allegri decided to use his third sub of the match in the 87th minute to give Cheveyo Balentien, a brand new Milan Futuro player he had dragged along, his first team debut replacing Santi for the last few minutes. No idea why he did not use the other two subs, especially already having injuries, but it was also not a surprise. It is Allegri, after all.
Getting the result seemed like the bare minimum this team should have done, but at least there was one very enjoyable aspect to this match: the fans. Lecce sold a record-breaking amount of season tickets this year that equal about two-thirds the capacity of their stadium, and their fans are very passionate. That always creates a foundation for great atmosphere, but this match was special, because the traveling Curva Sud members were allowed to bring their flags and banners, and they packed the away section and sang in full voice. It was so beautiful. Something I have almost taken for granted in the past. Yet when they sang to the team at the end of the match, I actually teared up, because of all of the horrific authoritarian sanctions our idiotic club and the local officials in Milano have been forcing upon them for the past ten months. The passion and the joy the Curva Sud brought made this match bearable, in spite of the football.
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| The most redeeming part of the evening. |
The win should have been more convincing, when you compare the players who played. Instead, it was more like enduring an unwanted medical or dental procedure without anesthesia. Absolutely brutal. I know it is very early in the season, and management was not finished reinforcing depleting the squad yet, but there are so many better ways to spend a Friday night than watching Allegri scream at a team he has inexplicably lined up this way, without using all of his subs, while already having injuries. In week two of the season. The Milan Curva Sud fans made it all worthwhile, but the match itself was a brutal win.
Milan Futuro Knock Out Gozzano With a 1-0 Win in the Coppa Italia
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| Sala was a super sub for the win. |
Massimo Oddo's Milan Futuro have won their second match in a row, this time defeating Gozzano 1-0 away in the Coppa Italia Serie D. Saturday evening's match was decided by a goal from the substitute called up from the Primavera, Sala, in the 70th minute. Also noteworthy was Cheveyo Balentien with the assist, who had made his Serie A debut the night before, and impressed again in the first Coppa Italia match vs. Travigliese, who started and played all 90 minutes of this match as well. There are brief highlights available.
Milan Futuro have qualified for the Round of 32 in the Coppa Italia Serie D, and will play that round during the week of October 8th. They were scheduled to kick off their league matches this next weekend vs. AC Leon, however, too many of their players were called up for national team duty, so it has been postponed until September 17th. Therefore, their next match will be September 14th at Pavia.
Renna's Primavera Lose a Second Straight Match at Home to Genoa
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| Renna is 0 for 2 of his home matches already. |
After winning their opening match away to Lecce, our Primavera lost back to back home matches. This week, it was a painful 2-0 loss to Genoa. Poor Sala, who had been the hero the night before in Gozzano, playing a little over 30 minutes and scoring for Milan Futuro, Started for the Primavera and played for 70 minutes less than 24 hours later. He made a costly error to concede the first goal in just the fourth minute. The other goal was scored in the 39th minute, after Longoni saved the inital effort, no one could help him save the follow up shot. Brief highlights are available. With the international break now, the guys have to wait until September 14th for a chance to redeem themselves away to Cagliari.
This post inspired by the music of Nitzer Ebb's "Join in the Chant"
Campionato Primavera 1 Week 4
Reviewed by Elaine
on
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