We’ve been needing goals for so long. And four in one game
is almost too much to ask for. But we’ve been asking, and today, they came
through in a big way. The game itself was kind of poor, especially the first
half. But no one ever cares about a poor performance when you have three points
and four goals on the scoresheet. So today was more about letting off some
steam.
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| The goals everyone needed |
Poor SPAL, the scoreline absolutely does not reflect their
efforts in this match. They had some very close calls, including a Viviani free
kick in the 41st that completely cleared the wall and hit the post. Milan’s
defense was poor, it was like they were still sleeping for much of the first
half. I know I wish I would have been, the game was at 6am for me. As if
feeling my pain, Milan were clumsy and unfocused and failed to show as much of the
teamwork that they had showed in recent matches.
The goalscoring was immediate, though. Cutrone scored less
than two minutes in. It was on the rebound of a Romagnoli header, and Cutrone,
always opportunistic, sent it right into the back of the net. 1-0. My theory
was that this confused everyone, the whole scoring right away thing, and
perhaps that is why they were so disorganized and unfocused. So much so that
Kessie got a yellow in the 17th, which will see him suspended for the Sampdoria
match. Geez, what a kid’s got to do to get a break.
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| Yeah, it feels a lot like that |
Despite the introduction of our former Paloschi in the 55 th
minute, SPAL could not find an equalizer. But in the second half, Milan pulled
it together a little bit and in the 65th, on a cross from Suso, Cutrone scored
again. 2-0 Milan. I do hope Silva is okay. But no time to even check on him,
Biglia scored his very first red and black goal in the 73rd, a great shot from
distance. 3-0 Milan. That gave Gattuso so much confidence, he was even willing
to sub him off for Montolivo two minutes later. Poor Silva had to come on for
the hero Cutrone in the 77th, that’s a tough act to follow.
But the masterclass sub proved to be Borini on for Kessie in
the 84th. That’s right, Montollivo and Borini were on the pitch at the same
time. And apparently, Milan have improved so much that Montolivo assisted
Borini for his goal in the 90th minute. 4-0 Milan. The probability of that
happening ever is so low that there may have been a fluctuation in the
gravitational pull on the earth. I’m just saying. But then again, I don’t think
anyone expected a team that has been so goal deficient this season to pull off
a 4-0 win over anyone. But when the pressure builds up for so long, even the
scoring legend Borini is going to let off some steam.
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| Right on track for his amazing 3 goals per season striker allotment |
This was a feel good win for everyone not called SPAL. The
goals don’t only help with our lethargic goal differential, they help heal our
hearts and make us smile. That Cutrone kid is proving Galliani and everyone
wrong who said that we don’t have any stars in our youth sector. And we didn’t
even have to sell him on the cheap and then see his value go up 60 times or
more in like five or six years elsewhere. This time, he’s ours. He showed us
what we’ve been missing by painfully and foolishly starting Kalinic every
single game this season: goals. Even Biglia and Borini can score when he’s not
on the pitch. And with that miracle, they each took turns letting off some
steam.
This post inspired by the music of
Sonic Youth’s Pink Steam (From the Basement)
Our next match is
Europa League
Round of 32
Ludogorets vs. AC Milan
Thursday, February
15 • 19:00 CET • 1:00pm EST
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