This match, on paper, should not have been so difficult. Which is why, I'm sure, it was. For much of the match, it even felt like it was going to be a repeat of our away loss to Parma at the beginning of the season. Well, even until the 91st minute, it felt that way. However, by continuing to fight beyond the 91st minute, the collective belief was rewarded in stoppage time. Milan were down 2-1, but somehow came back with two goals in three minutes and defeated Parma 3-2 in what can only be described as stoppage time serendipity.
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| Who could have ever predicted a finish like that? |
The first twenty minutes was all about contact. Parma wanted a penalty for a little friendly contact from Gabbia with Mihǎilǎ right away, but I think they were more embarrassed that Ðurić had not taken his shot. Then Calabria was down after Valeri collided with his chest. Players don't need lungs or anything, right? Pavlović was actually awarded a yellow card in just the 12th minute for trying to cancel Cancellieri. But where a card and really a penalty should have been given was just about ten minutes later, when Leão was shoved, then pulled down in the box. But nothing.
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| From an early yellow card to MVP, Pavlović made this match his. |
After Leão took a shot that went over, Cancellieri ended up scoring at the other end two minutes later. 1-0 Parma. That felt like being punched in the gut, as Milan had mostly controlled the footballing bits of the match, even if maybe the more aggressive MMA-type parts were more even. So Morata came right back and attempted to score, but Parma's goalkeeper, Suzuki, saved it, and he would have been offside anyway. A few minutes later, he did manage to actually score, but the goal was called back, as once again, he was offside.
Suzuki is a great goalkeeper, there have been reports of interest for him from the Premier League and other big teams. But in the 35th, he made a huge error. He shoved Pavlović in the back with both hands as he was jumping, before he himself went for the ball. A very clear and obvious foul, and Abisso, as abysmal as he can sometimes be as a referee, called for a penalty right away. The VAR check reaffirmed the call, and in the 37th minute, Pulisic stepped up and converted the penalty to maintain his 100% penalty record in Serie A. 1-1 all.
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| Pulisic is back, and goalkeepers know they'll concede when he steps up to the spot. |
Reijnders was looking dangerous, but the real danger was that Fofana was in danger of being suspended due to yellow card accumulation. In the 43rd minute, that danger became a reality when he was shown a yellow card for a foul on Mihǎilǎ. He will be missing when we face Inter next weekend for the Derby. Milan came back with some chances, but the score at halftime was still 1-1.
As the players were coming out from halftime, Leão very notably was bundled up and going straight to the bench. It turned out that Conceição subbed Bennacer and Bartesaghi on for Leão and Theo at the half. But Conceição did not make a big media drama about it, and in his postmatch comments, pointed out how much both players had given the team lately, and that they will both play in Zagreb. End of.
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| Reportedly, Leão was not 100% and was never going to be playing the full match. |
In the 46th minute, Milan could have been awarded another penalty, as Morata had his foot stomped on in the box, but Abisso ruled that someone was offside. However, Marini and company in the VAR room clearly have forgotten what it feels like to have metal studs ground into your foot with the full weight and force of a grown man, as their review did not change the decision on the pitch. Morata also took the full force of a free kick to his face point blank just a few minutes later. Ouch. But to his credit, he did block it.
After Hernani took a shot from distance that went over the crossbar, but closer than was really comfortable, Conceição made a couple of more substitutions. He replaced the battered Morata with fresh legs in Tammy Abraham, and the cautioned Fofana with the returning-from-injury Chukwueze. Reijnders had a shot that forced Suzuki into a save. Ten minutes later, after Suzuki grabbed a dangerous Calabria cross, Reijnders had another shot that went just wide.
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| Maignan, always focused, and Fofana, whom we will miss dearly in the Derby. |
Maignan made another big save on Almqvist, then a few minutes later held onto a dangerous cross from Del Prato as well, preventing Mihǎilǎ's attempt. Conceição, who had already made multiple tactical changes to try to force the win, now subbed Jović on for Calabria, sacrificing something defensively in hopes of scoring. In the 79th minute, Pavlović demonstrated once again what an incredible night he was having with a great stop on Cancellieri. Then Maignan made another point blank save on Camara, but unfortunately, Del Prato was there to just tap in the rebound. 2-1 Parma.
Conceição is known for taking risks, and it seemed that by putting all of his eggs in the basket of his attack, that his risk had backfired on him. But Conceição had a secret weapon, and his name was Strahinja Pavlović, aka Milan's MVP. Not content with merely defending, he was all over the pitch, and determined to do whatever it took to win. In the 88th minute, Chukwueze crossed the ball to him, and he headed it past Suzuki for what seemed to be an equalizer. At least it seemed that way before VAR reviewed it and Semi-automated Offside Technology (SAOT) ruled him offside and the goal was called off. So disappointing, because his goal celebration was already going to win for most grinta shown in a goal celebration since Gabbia's Derby win in September.
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| Pavlović celebrating the goal that was disallowed. Imagine him celebrating one that wasn't. |
He did not give up, though, nearly scoring again shortly thereafter, but this time getting called for a foul just for jumping as Suzuki barely saved the ball. The man was willing his team to win. In the 91st minute, it seemed that Milan were going to lose again to this relegation-threatened team. But Conceição's values of hard work and belief led them to an ending no one could have predicted from sources no one would have ever guessed.
In the 92nd minute, Musah sent a great ball forward to an incoming Reijnders, who took advantage of a serendipitous lapse in defending to just slot it between Suzuki and the post for the equalizer. Which actually stood this time. 2-2 all. Jović squandered another chance, sending the ball into the stands, and Parma made another attempt that was thwarted.
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| Reijnders trying to get something back from the ungrateful Curva Sud after scoring a 92nd minute equalizer. |
But in the 95th minute, Pavlović's grinta once again came into play after Bartesaghi sent a ball in from the corner, and the Serbian defender contorted his entire body to head the ball toward goal, and an awkward knee from Chukwueze helped the ball awkwardly continue its trajectory, with his facial expressions willing it past Suzuki's outstretched arm, who got a hand to it, but could not stop serendipity. Even the Parma defender who kept Chukwueze onside, there were so many things that went Milan's way. It was 3-2 Milan.
The bench exploded, emotions exploded. Notably, the benched Leão and Theo were right there celebrating with their teammates. But something else exploded, some kind of misunderstanding saw Conceição and Calabria almost fighting with one another, being restrained and pulled apart by Milan players. Players surrounded Calabria in celebration to diffuse his anger, and we saw Theo with his arm around Conceição explaining something to him to calm him down. It was surprising to say the least, but not the drama that the media would like you to believe it was. Also, that moment was completley overshadowed by the sheer joy of watching tiny Bennacer pick up the giant Pavlović in celebration, as well as all the celebrations.
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| Chukwueze willing the ball over the line with his facial expressions for the win, you love to see it. |
Wisely, Conceição and Calabria went before the media postmatch to apologize and let everyone know everything was fine. For me, far more controversial was that the team greeted the Curva Sud to celebrate, a group of so-called fans who had engaged in a completely silent protest for the entire match and had offered them zero support the whole night. Well, technically, they reportedly gave ironic applause toward management after the first Parma goal, but that was obviously not support for Milan. That was beyond shameful. Gerald Cardinale does not care about what they do or do not chant or sing in the stadium during matches. He cares that they all bought tickets that will help make him rich. The Curva Sud are so antiquated in their thinking, you would think their Nonnas were planning their protests.
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| The media can try to stir up controversy where there is none, this team are united. |
I feel a tiny bit of pity for Parma, who also worked hard and played well against a team with much larger resources than theirs. But I also am so grateful for the three points, which finally put us within two points of sixth place. So much has gone wrong for this club this season, from the overzealous former player who maybe isn't ready to wear a suit full time, to the clueless, heartless owner and complete joke of incompetence he calls his CEO and technical director to our self-centered former manager.
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| Hard work and grinta can win matches. |
This match could have easily gone wrong, too. But now, with Conceição, I just somehow feel safer. And even if I may have more chances of heart failure with these comeback wins, it also feels like maybe we'll have a bit more luck coming our way, too. This was definitely a case of stoppage time serendipity.
After a Bright Start, Milan Primavera Held to 1-1 Draw Away to Cremonese
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| Liberali back in the starting lineup, making an impact. |
Milan Primavera got off to a great start vs. Cremonese, when Scotti made a great run all the way down, then sent a cross in for Bonomi, who only had to tap it in for the goal in just the 16th minute. However, just after the half, a costly error caused them to concede an equalizer. Despite Milan creating a number of chances, and a great goalline clearance near the end, the match finished at Cremonese Primavera 1, Milan Primavera 1. It was great to have Liberali back from injury, who also received an award on Monday as a Promising Young Player. Guidi's boys sit in fifth on the table.
Milan Futuro Miss a Penalty and End with a 0-0 Draw at Home to Rimini
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| Ianesi and Quirini making a difference, throwing the development of our players idea out the window. |
If you have been reading my small recaps of Milan Futuro's performances this season, you'll know that I was much kinder to the Legendary Daniele Bonera the player than I am the manager. (And that was sarcasm, not kindness, by the way.) They have only won three of their 24 matches, with perhaps their most convincing win of those three coming when Bonera was not on the bench, as he was suspended.
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| Bonera has limited even his most experienced player from scoring a penalty. |
This match was no exception to the sphere of Bonera's lack of success. After buying new players with experience, all of whom were on the pitch, including a debut for Quirini, who earned a penalty, nothing changed. Not even being awarded a penalty could help this team score. Literally, Magrassi, who turns 32 next week, could not score an easy penalty against the Jolly Green Giant to give Milan Futuro the lead. The match ended in a goalless draw with Rimini, but none of us can get that time in our lives back (and neither can these poor players.)
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| Lorrenzo Torriani, Time Traveler. Is he from the present? Is he from the future? No one knows. |
Something curious occurred, though. While some sites say otherwise, Torriani featured in goal in this match, despite having warmed up with the goalkeepers at the San Siro for the Milan-Parma match, a match that ended roughly 30 minutes before this one kicked off, a venue 40 minutes north of San Siro. Videos on the club's social media shows Torriani in both locations. So does he have a Time-Turner? Was he able to manipulate the space-time continuum to be able to be at both matches? (Clearly, he left the Milan-Parma match early, but still, very strange.) And where was Raveyre, who was listed on other apps as the starting goalkeeper, but was not on any video? (Only Torriani and Nava were there.) Has Bonera been eating the players?
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| Bonera seems like he is ready for some time off work, don't you think? |
The good news is that FINALLY, there are reports that Bonera's job is on the line. Finally. Apparently, the match away to SPAL on Saturday will be the determining factor. Not the other 24 matches that have Milan Futuro four points below 17th place, a deficit that would be difficult for even the best of managers to dig them out of. But at least we can finally hope for a vacation for Bonera and some better luck (and development) for our young players
Serie C Week 25
Reviewed by Elaine
on
2:00 PM
Rating:
