Going
into this match was the most empty and hollow I’ve felt as a Milan fan, and if
you read here often or listen to the podcasts, you’ll know that’s saying a lot.
With no certainty of the future of the club whatsoever, no direction, no
promise of change one way or the other, it was impossible to feel much of
anything. And though everyone says that they are not distracted, Montella and
the team gave signs that said otherwise before this match. With everyone’s
patience wearing thin, it seemed difficult to imagine that the guys would be
able to focus enough to pull off the win. But they did, almost miraculously so,
to give us a little something to be happy about in a sea of uncertainty.
Against all odds, too.
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| Two Colombians and an Italian went into a bar... |
Chievo
could have very easily tripped us up at home. Then there was the brave move to
start Romagnoli, who was just coming back from his muscle injury, and risked
being suspended vs. Juve if he got a card. Montella’s choice of midfielders was
kind of brave, too… perhaps his three most talented midfielders, but all very
similar in playing style. Maybe it was just the weirdness surrounding the club
sale not closing, but I wasn’t particularly optimistic at kickoff.
Probably
Donnarumma’s best saves were on Birsa, the first of those in the 19th, as the
game was starting to heat up. Meggiorini had already had to go off for a bloody
nose and change his jersey, but had oddly come back on with a number-less,
name-less one, which lasted until they could find a normal one after halftime. Then
almost out of nowhere, Deulofeu sent a ball in for Bacca and from an almost
impossible shot, he sent it into the back of the net after Sorrentino just got
a foot to it. 1-0 Milan.
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| "They call me the Jackal" |
That
seemed to switch the momentum more toward Milan, and Locatelli had a great shot
that went just wide in the 29th. Deulofeu got a yellow in the 33rd for
protesting a non-penalty call that would have been soft at best, but in
hindsight may have had more merit than other calls that were given.
Perspective, though, as Suso was injured and had to come off shortly thereafter
in the 35th for Ocampos. He told Milan TV that he was okay after the game, but
if he’s not, it will be a devastating blow to our starting eleven. He has been
a key player all season long, even when not making the stat sheet in assists or
goals.
Bacca
continued to threaten, with a shot in the 37th that was destined for the back of
the net save for an incredible Chievo goal line clearance in which Goal Line
Technology was used. In the 41st, Maresca judged that De Sciglio had fouled
Gakpe in the penalty area, which was contested for many reasons, two of which
were two Chievo players in the offside position when the ball was played
forward before the foul. Oh well. When it comes to calls, you win some, you
lose some. So de Guzman stepped up and converted the penalty to make it 1-1 all
in the 42nd. Karma has a strange sense of humor, though, as two minutes into
stoppage time, Cesar was whistled for a handball in the box, perhaps the most
correct penalty call of the night. But ironically, Bacca took the penalty and
missed. His first miss in seven attempts in Serie A. Ouch. Still 1-1 at the
half.
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| They say that Suso injured himself on Cesar's beard |
Going
with the more popular trend of Montella’s Milan, the team dialed it up a few
notches for the second half and maintained that momentum to the end. Bacca
continued to be fierce, and for once his teammates noticed him and actually
sent the ball into him. He had so many shots that were just wide or
miraculously saved. And in another bold move by Montella, he used his second
sub to bring on Lapadula for Locatelli in the 61st. This was a very
offensive-minded sub, and quite early for Montella, too, particularly with the
Suso injury forcing his first sub. It may well have served as the catalyst for
Bacca’s second goal, too, in the 70th. That one was assisted by Romagnoli, a
very welcome return from him, from a set piece. 2-1 Milan. Imagine that. an
impact sub from Montella. Now I’ve seen it all.
Another
massive and fearless Donnarumma save on Birsa in the 77th, then Montella made
his final sub in the 79th, taking off the two-time goal scorer Bacca for the
heavy artillery in Kuco. Then came the most bizarre penalty call of the night.
In the 81st, Ocampos caught his foot in the turf and tripped himself and fell in
the box, although to be fair, he sold it well. That I could see, no Chievo
player even touched him. But whatever angle Maresca saw it from (maybe
completely blind?) he called a penalty. With Bacca off, it was Lapadula’s turn
to step up, and he converted it in the 82nd. 3-1 Milan.
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| "I dedicate this completely undeserved penalty to Roma" #FakeQuotes |
Despite
being in the driver’s seat at this point in the match, Milan did not take their
foot off the pedal. But to be fair, neither did Chievo. After an epic miss by
Cacciatore in the 84th, next Deulofeu missed one from close range. Then to make
sure he made the stat list, Ocampos may have tried to actually kill Cacciatore
in the 90th+2 with a very reckless challenge and was gifted a yellow for it.
Deulofeu had the last word, trying to chase down a ball poked forward from him,
then actually pushing off of a Chievo defender, he sent himself sprawling well
before the box, then looked to Maresca for a call. First of all, it should be
noted that he is a Barca youth product. Second of all, I realize that by
Maresca’s standard for the night, anything could have been a penalty. But that
was certainly not. He never even controlled the ball, and he was way too far
away from goal for a guaranteed shot on goal, thus there was no clear
goal-scoring opportunity.
And just
like that, the battle for three points was over. Milan got the win, Maresca
continued Serie A fans’ myopic look at the refs of lately, but at least Bacca
had two more notches on his belt. That was one of my best take aways from this
match, after Montella showing a lot of faith in him in the press conference
ahead of the match, he was finally able to click with his teammates and find
the back of the net again. Something we desperately need if we are going to
have a chance at all against Juve on Friday.
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| Be careful what you ask for, Montella. That's a whole lotta love. |
So
despite the dystopian level of distractions off the pitch, a ref who was as
human as any, and facing the Slovenian Messi up close and personal, Milan
pulled it off. Every time I think our grinta
is just not going to be enough to take us any farther, they prove me wrong. And
I love them for it. When all hope is lost, we can at least count on 11 players
giving their all for 90 minutes. And that is more than we can ask for at this
point in our club’s history. Winning against all odds.
This post inspired
by the music of Howard Shore’s “Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers Soundtrack”
Our next match is
Juventus vs. Milan
Friday, March 10 •
20:45 CET (2:45pm EST)