There were a lot of concerns about the pitch ahead of this
match due to constant rain and a rugby match the day before, and it was very
slippery, but that was not the only thing that was slipping. Despite a very
brave performance amidst an injury
apocalypse, Milan let the three points slip right through their fingers
in the final minutes.
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| Not even Franck-enstein could save us from ourselves |
Milan were tested early, but Calhanoglu had a couple of
chances, too, like in the 16th when he forced Strakosha into a great save.
Zapata reminded us just how slippery the pitch was in the 18th. But it was
Milinkovic-Savic who thought he scored first. His goal in the 28th was called
back for offside. His apparent audition to have Milan get him out of Lazio
included a shot that was blocked three minutes later, followed by a yellow card
for an obvious foul on Calhanoglu just two minutes after that. Bakayoko also
took an elbow to the head in the 43rd. Even if he struggles to keep possession,
he is certainly very tough.
The second half belonged in part to Gigio. He was immense
and made a number of excellent saves. But it wasn’t until the 78th that the
deadlock was broken when Kessie sent the ball powerfully on goal. 1-0 Milan.
After a VAR review the goal stood, but later, the league credited the goal to
Wallace as an own goal for the deflection. Poor Kessie. He was fantastic on
this night.
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| No minutes for Conti means longer that he's not fit, and this was his only appearance |
He wasn’t alone, either. Zapata was flawless. As our only
healthy center back right now, he has stepped up so massively. Meaning we are
overdue for a Zapata special. My money is that he will find a way to score an
own goal in another game with two other teams altogether. But truly, I’m
grateful that he has stepped up when we needed him most. Also, Rodriguez had a
couple of amazing stops. Playing in a three man backline limits his ability to
get forward as much, but he has made up for it by stepping up his defensive
skills.
Gigio earned himself a yellow in the 86th for dissent when a
foul was called against Abate. But that was Milan’s only yellow. And in a game
where Milan were out-fouled eleven to four, we could do worse. Like the other
Inzaghi, he got himself sent off in stoppage time for dissent, for example. Cutrone
fouled Wallace in the 92nd, a foul that put a smile on my face just because he
was so fierce and determined.
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| Cutrone also determined to help fight against violence against women |
But it was in the 94th that Milan truly slipped up. The
other Inzaghi’s sub, Correa, saw the tiniest of slots and sent the ball right
through it to make it 1-1. I wouldn’t necessarily say Milan outplayed Lazio.
They had more possession and almost double the shots. But what was amazing was
that in an injury-ravaged squad, with zero substitutions, we had weathered the
storm and were one minute away from three points.
It is a sore point with Milan fans that Gattuso didn’t sub.
With so many injuries, and with five starters carrying or still mending from
recent injuries, it was utterly irresponsible of him not to give a couple of
starters a few minutes’ rest. The other Inzaghi made a double sub in the 64th, remarkably
subbing off two of his best players. And it seemed folly when they conceded 14
minutes later. But it was one of his subs, Correa, who scored the equalizer,
which makes him look kind of brilliant after the fact.
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| Incredible when he's perpetually injured |
The fact that no one acknowledged the true contest on the
night is disconcerting, however. Whose hair is worse? Luis Alberto or Borini?
Perhaps we were lucky to draw when you take that question into consideration. I’m
not sure if the draw will appease either set of fans, but certainly it feels
like Milan are beginning to unravel. Ravaged by injuries and unable to get the
desired results with grinta alone, every dropped point just feels like
we are slipping.
This post inspired by the music of Jan
Siberry’s “It Can’t Rain All the Time”
Our next match is
Europa League
Group Stage
Milan vs. Dudelange
Thursday, November
29 • 18:55 CET (12:55pm CET)