Milan displays their resolve to secure a 2-1 win over Sampdoria in their Serie A clash, despite playing most of the second half with ten men.
The visitors took the lead in the first half through Junior Messias but were disallowed a second by VAR for an offside call against Olivier Giroud.
Rafael Leao was dismissed one minute into the second half for a high boot on Alex Ferrari.
And the game appeared to turn in the hosts’ favour when Filip Djuricic levelled the scores.
However, Milan was awarded a penalty by VAR after Gonzalo Villar was handled in the box, and Giroud dispatched the resulting spot-kick.
Sampdoria were denied late on by Mike Maignan, and the post as the Rossoneri held out for a gutsy victory.
Starting lineup:
SAMPDORIA (4-1-4-1): Emil Audero; Bartosz Bereszynski, Jeison Murillo, Alex Ferrari, Tommaso Augello; Gonzalo Villar; Mehdi Leris, Tomas Rincon, Abdelhamid Sabiri, Filip Djuricic; Francesco Caputo.
SAMPDORIA SUBS: Bruno Amione, Valerio Verre, Andrea Conti, Ronaldo Vieira, Ignacio Pussetto, Manolo Gabbiadini, Fabio Quagliarella, Gerard Yepes, Nicola Murru, Nicola Ravaglia.
MILAN (4-2-3-1): Mike Maignan; Davide Calabria, Pierre Kalulu, Simon Kjaer, Theo Hernandez; Tommaso Pobega, Sandro Tonali; Junior Messias, Charles de Ketelaere, Rafael Leao; Olivier Giroud.
MILAN SUBS: Ciprian Tatarusanu, Ismael Bennacer, Fode Ballo-Toure, Yacine Adli, Brahim Diaz, Tiemoue Bakayoko, Sergino Dest, Fikayo Tomori, Malick Thiaw, Aster Vranckx, Matteo Gabbia, Alexis Saelemaekers, Antonio Mirante.
Goals:
GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!! MESSIAS FIRES MILAN AHEAD!!!!! 1-0!!!!! The visitors take the lead on a quick counter with Messias blasting home at the back post. Leao leads the break and feeds Giroud in the box. He works the ball back towards the forward, touching it enough to reach Messias. The Brazilian fires at goal the first time, and his effort has too much power for Audero to react and keep it out.
GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!! DJURICIC HEADS HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SAMPDORIA ARE LEVEL!!!!!! 1-1!!!! The home side is back in the game as the forward glances Augello’s cross past Maignan. Sampdoria works the ball down the left flank before Augello angles a precise delivery to the near post. Djuricic makes a good run and gets there ahead of Maignan before flicking his header into the back of the net.
GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!! GIROUD CONVERTS!!!! 2-1 MILAN!!!! The Rossoneri regain their lead as Giroud blasts his spot-kick into the net. He goes high and to the left, sending Audero the wrong way. A fine penalty from the forward.
So, what’s next?
Milan is back in action on Wednesday in the Champions League at home against Dinamo Zagreb.
Sampdoria is next in action against Spezia on the road next Saturday in Serie A.
