Milan 3-2 Rijeka: Cutrone rescues Rossoneri from late collapse

By Oliver Fisher -

AC Milan required the late heroics of teenage striker Patrick Cutrone as they beat HNK Rijeka 3-2 at San Siro on Thursday night.

Cutrone scored a 94th minute winner to rescue the Rossoneri as the visitors came from two goals down inside the last 10 minutes to get the score back to 2-2.

Andre Silva and Mateo Musacchio scored either side of half time to give Vincenzo Montella’s side a 2-0 lead.

However, Acosty scored in the 84th minute before Elez scored from the spot to ensure a nervy last few minutes for Milan.

Rijeka started brightly and came close inside the first five minutes as Heber was in on goal but he dragged his shot wide, but was offside anyway.

After 15 minutes though the Rossoneri seized control of the game as the lively Andre Silva fired in the opener. The Portugal international received the ball inside the box before cutting onto his right foot and unleashing a fierce shot which beat Simon Sluga to give Milan a 1-0 lead.

The Rossoneri played the majority of the first half in second gear and could have paid the price when Puljic sent a close-range header straight at Donnarumma in the 26th minute.

Milan doubled their advantage eight minutes into the second half as a corner was glanced to the far post before Leonardo Bonucci directed the ball into the path of Musacchio, who finished from close range to make it 2-0.

It should have been 3-0 inside the hour as Andre Silva had a chance to pass to Cutrone on the break but instead he dribbled into a defender.

However, the Rossoneri gifted the game to the visitors in the 84th minute when a comedy of errors resulted in Acosty being put through on goal; the forward finishing after his initial shot deflected off Donnarumma and rolled into the net.

In the 88th minute the San Siro was in shock as Alessio Romagnoli was penalised for a foul inside the box; Josip Elez stepped up and calmly converted the spot kick.

However, Cutrone was on hand to rescue Milan. The 19-year-old made an intelligent run in behind which was found perfectly by Borini, with the Rossoneri striker lifting the ball over the advancing ‘keeper to save AC Milan and possibly Montella’s job.

The result means Milan top the group after two games following AEK Athens’ draw with Austria Wien, but question marks will be asked over the home collapse.

Tags AC Milan Italy Milan Milan Rijeka News Rossoneri Serie A
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