We won. After two seasons of injuries and other bad luck, when it mattered most, Milan actually won the Derby. In spite of going down a goal and having a scary first half, this team fought back to not only equalize, but then win it and take all three points. No one was injured, there were no egregious referee calls, just winning. Against Inter. It really doesn't get any better than this. Milan fans are still celebrating, in a state of Derby bliss.
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| Take a bow, guys |
This was a statement win. Milan had a few shots, but then Inter gradually took control. Dumfries scored a goal in the tenth minute, but it was called back for offside. That started the Maignan show, who had an epic save in the 11th when Brozovic's shot was deflected one way by Romagnoli, then another by Kalulu. But no problem for Maignan, who had brilliant save after brilliant save.
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| Deflection? No problem |
Poor Kalulu took a ball from Dzeko to the side of the head at point blank range. Maybe he was still a little shaken less than ten minutes later when the snakes came out from under their rock to draw first blood. Perisic scored, and of course it was the Turkish Traitor with the corner kick/assist. 1-0 Snakes.
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| Welcome to Milan, Lazetić. This is the Derby. |
In the 44th, The Other Inzaghi wanted Theo Hernández sent off for elbowing Barella, but in the end, Guida did not show a card at all because Barella barreled into the Milan defender. I think Barella is still whining and complaining about it. Then in stoppage time, Maignan came way out to save, and winding up just outside of the area, made a beautiful sliding tackle on Calhanoglu, then got up and managed to get it out of danger and back to his line before the ball was sent in by Dzeko, which he saved. Unbelievably amazing goalkeeping.
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| Tonali was a beast. He knows what it means to play for Milan. |
After a frightening first half, Milan came out and made their statement. That statement was this: This game could be a turning point in our season, and it was still in our hands. Or as Pioli eloquently put it to them at halftime, "We must continue believing in ourselves. There are only insurmountable obstacles for those who don't believe." Pioli brought on Messias for Saelemaekers at the half, then replaced Kessié with an actual trequartista in the 58th minute. They controlled the ball better and got more chances, including a couple of Tonali rockets from distance that were saved or wide.
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| Current mood |
It only took about three minutes for Giroud to change everything. First, after Brahim Díaz's shot was deflected, Giroud slotted the ball in for the equalizer. 1-1 all. Then as De Vrij was marking him, Giroud spun him with a brilliant backheel and just sent it screaming past Handanovic. 2-1 Milan. Maignan had some more big saves as Inter tried desperately to at least salvage the point. But even when Vicino collided with him in the 82nd, he was infallible.
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| Hahahahaha.... delicious. |
Theo Hernández, having survived all but the last 30 seconds of the Derby just one card away from suspension, started painting the city red a little early with a bad tackle on Dumfries from behind, and was sent off. At the final whistle, he immediately came back out to celebrate, although a bunch of Inter players took issue with this and surrounded him. Nothing was going to stop our team from celebrating. Even Pioli ran like he was young again to celebrate. It was sheer bliss.
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| Winning. |
One of the staff members was apparently also sent off in the 84th, and four Milan players picked up yellow cards throughout the match: Romagnoli, Brahim Díaz, Bennacer, and Krunić. Theo Hernández will obviously miss our match next week with Sampdoria, but will still be available for our midweek Coppa matchup with Lazio. Discipline may have been a slight blemish, but it was otherwise an exceptional evening.
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| Derby bliss. |
If we had lost, we would be seven points behind Inter plus their game in hand, so potentially 10 points. But winning put us back in the race, only one point behind them plus the game in hand, truly a six point game in the race for the Scudetto. More importantly, though, it's Inter. Since Berlusconi checked out of the club ten years ago, those snakes have won way too many of these games. Plus, it's Inter. I hate them so very much. It was also only their second loss in the league and their first home of loss in the league as well. Even more delicious. This was much bigger than just a win, or the six point swing for the Scudetto. Winning was sheer Derby bliss.
This post inspired by the music of The Cranberries' "Dreams"
Reviewed by Elaine
on
11:00 PM
Rating:
