Milan won. When they absolutely had no other choice but to get three points to salvage their entire season, they did it. And they did it in one of the most hostile stadiums, too, where home fans caused a full five minutes stoppage in the match with smoke from flares. A statement 2-1 win over Genoa to make their case for Champions League qualification. Just when we thought they were down, they proved we were not out. After months of an attack that has been painfully toothless, the team gathered themselves together, believed in themselves, and created a miracle at the Marassi.
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| The team showed just how tight-knit they are by pulling off a miracle at the Marassi. |
Tensions were high. They always are in that stadium, but higher than usual for Milan. Gerald Cardinale was in attendance again, having taken a hands-on approach after the 50,000+ signature petition against Furlani and the extensive protests against management, but Furlani in particular the week prior. After four years of owning Milan, Gerald finally seems to be somewhat interested in his investment. Not only was he in attendance at the match once again, he also, along with Furlani, were reported to go into the dressing room ahead of the match to speak to the team.
Bartesaghi did not hold anything back, and Genoa players seemed surprised.
Whatever he said, it did not immediately work. The team came out playing the same way they had for the past six weeks or so, and it was terrifying. On the one hand, it was kind of fun. With Estupiñan suspended, Allegri had no choice but to play Bartesaghi, who decided to use his size and his brute strength on this occasion, so that was fun to watch. Genoa players almost seemed surprised, as if this clean cut young man should not be doing those things. That made it even better. And early on, Fofana fouled Vásquez, apparently testing referee Sozza, who did not give him a card, so it was like that. Althouogh when our now former Lorenzo Colombo fell on Gabbia with his fulll weight after the latter challenged him, I was a bit worried.
Genoa, the 14th placed team in the league, were controlling the game. And I hated this now familiar feeling. But for me, there was a switch that flipped around 15 minutes in when Colombo dispossessed Pavlović in the midfield. And Pavlović seemed to turn around, then turn back and just take his ball back, as if to say, "No you don't, that's mine." And that sense of belief seemed to spread to the whole team.
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| Pavlović flipped a switch, and then our Milan was back. |
The rest of the first half was still ugly, Santi Gimenez was taken down by Marcondelli in the box, but no penalty given. Then Santi attempted a bicycle kick and that did not work out for him. Or us. Maignan wa snot really threatened, but he was on full alert, whereas Bijlow, the Genoa keeper was a little less steady.
The second half kicked off with a Genoa defensive error that forced Bijlow to make a bigger error: he fouled Nkunku in the box. A clear and obvious penalty, no controversy whatsoever. And so, in the 50th minute, Nkunku, cool as ice, took that penalty and converted it. 1-0 Milan. For this and all the reasons, he was awarded the Serie A Player of the Match and was also voted Milan's MVP. Things were going very well.
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| Finally, Milan were involved in a penalty call with zero controversy. |
And suddenly, one of the officials brought a coin to Sozza. He had been struck by it, thrown by a Genoa fan. And at the same time, the flares from the Genoa Ultras created so much smoke, Sozza had to actually stop the match. Those five minutes of standing around until the smoke cleared favored Genoa, and Malinovskyi demonstrated that with a free kick that went just over the bar at the restart.
Gabbia earned a yellow card for fouling Colombo, and the Genoa players thought it should have been more. So much so that Vitinha earned a card of his own for dissent. In the 68th minute, Allegri made his first subs. Ricci, who had an ankle injury the day before in training, replaced Fofana, and Füllkrug replaced Santi Gimenez.
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| The miracle goal, seemingly out of nowhere. |
In the 71st minute, Tomori earned a yellow card for a foul on Vásquez, and both players were down, yet Tomori was worse for the wear and needed a bit of treatment. Shortly thereafter, Pulisic replaced Nkunku and De Winter came on for the carded Tomori. But it was in the 81st minute that the miracle happened. Athekame, deputizing for the suspended Saelemaekers, got the perfect pass from Pulisic, and just nailed his shot home, past Bijlow. 2-0 Milan.
That made Genoa very angry. Maignan was almost immediately forced to make a big save from a 1v1 with Ekhator. Then our Loftus-Cheek, making his 100th appearance for Milan, came on, replacing Jashari in the 85th minute. Ricci earned himself a yellow card for fouling Vitinha. Miraculously, none of our players who were in danger of card suspension earned yellow cards, so, barring injuries, everyone should be available for Cagliari on Sunday.
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| Genoa fans are always going to be Genoa fans, I guess. |
Of course, Milan were not perfect. Their captain, Vásquez, pulled one back in the 86tth minute to make it Milan 2, Genoa 1 after a De Winter error. Now we were back to the corto muso blood pressure levels. And normally, in the 86th minute, it wouldn't last too long. But with those five minutes of stoppage time due to Genoa's fans, it made a full 10 minutes of stoppage time. Which felt like another half, honestly.
However, it was Milan who was taking all the shots in the final minutes. They managed to not just hang on, but control the match, like they had done for much of it. And even if we only won by Allegri's favorite margin–one goal–we won. And when the full time whistle blew, you could see that it meant everything to them. They had pulled together and achieved the win right when it was most needed.
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| One left his team's objective to the very last match, the other achieved his objective already. |
Genoa were devastated, despite having nothing really to gain or lose, it was their final home match in front of their fans. And I don't know why the Genoa fans were so upset, they brought this wrath upon themselves. They said they would "unleash hell" on Sunday, and they did. Milan are Diavoli, and we gave them hell. De Rossi had kind words for Milan, pointing out that even missing a number of important players, were a strong team. More importantly, the ritiro had actually worked. And it had kept them sheltered a bit from the absolute meltdown in the media surrounding our beyond dysfunctional management.
And it's true, the team really did step up. After having so many troubles in attack, they only took eight shots, but an incredible six of those eight shots were on target. They pulled this off with only 38% possession, as well. Even if they started as the team we had unfortunately become acquainted with recently, they stepped into their power and became once again the team we knew they were all along. And that alone was a miracle at the Marassi.
Renna's Primavera Draw 1-1 with Torino on Their Final Matchday
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| The Primavera starting 11 for the final matchday. |
Renna had some big shoes to fill. His predecessor took the Primavera to the Coppa Italia Primavera final and made it to the playoffs at the end of the season, too, finishing sixth (and his current Roma team finished 4th this season, as well.) And his predecessor, Abate, who is now being linked with a possible Serie A move, took his Primavera to an unprecedented UEFA Youth League semifinals, then the finals in back-to-back seasons. So Renna was always going to have trouble measuring up. But he really never came close.
Milan Primavera finished the season much like they began it, struggling at home. They conceded a goal from a Torino free kick in the first half that left Bouyer flat footed. Then, despite Borsani winning a penalty early in the second half, Torino's goalkeeper, Santer, saved it. That had to hit them emotionally, but they kept fighting. Eventually, in the 88th minute, Perina headed in an equalizer with a great cross from Domniței. And that is how the match finished, Milan Primavera 1, Torino Primavera 1. There are some brief highlights available.
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| Perina the goalscorer. |
Renna's boys finished 11th, not nearly enough to get into the playoffs, were done for the season. Whether or not the manager stays remains to be seen, but given the number of players who were younger than average and the number of injuries he has dealt with, as well as the number of players who moved up to the Futuro team this year, it would not be unreasonable to give him another season. But with this management, anything can happen, so who knows? I do think our Primavera players should be proud of their season, though, given everything that happened. So, I hope to see most of them again next seaason.
Reviewed by Elaine
on
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