AC Milan played out yet another frustrating home game at San Siro as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Cremonese on Wednesday night.
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It was a game that followed a very familiar trend whereby Milan struggled to break down an opponent who sat in a low block and missed opportunities, while the away side were moments away from a historic win after David Okereke’s goal on the counter late in the second half.
The Rossoneri did get a late equaliser when Rade Krunic flicked in a free-kick from Junior Messias and there was also a late red card for violent conduct against Charles Pickel, but there was to be no last-gasp winner.
Given that everyone else in the top four battle won but for Roma, it is another game where Milan have lost serious ground in the race for a Champions League spot.
Stefano Pioli clearly had an eye on the Lazio and Inter games up next as he made seven changes to the line-up from the Roma draw, with Pierre Kalulu, Malick Thiaw, Fode Ballo-Toure, Aster Vranckx, Alexis Saelemaekers, Charles De Ketelaere and Divock Origi all starting.
Milan made a bright start to the game with plenty of intensity in the press which caused Cremonese problems. The first couple of half-chances fell to Origi inside the opening five minutes, who firstly fired at Carnesecchi and then didn’t quite manage to control the ball after a strong tackle that might have put him through.
After less than 11 minutes, it was the Rossoneri who thought they had taken the lead with Saelemaekers getting on the scoresheet again. A long ball from Kalulu found the Belgian who ran in behind, took a touch and slotted past Carnesecchi, though a VAR check took place and he had indeed gone too early.
Origi was very close to moving on to three goals for the season when Ballo-Toure won the ball in midfield and sent the former Liverpool man away on the break, yet his low angled shot was tipped wide as it seemed to be nestling into the bottom corner.
De Ketelaere must have thought that he would finally get his goal when a backpass to the goalkeeper from Meite was cut out by the 22-year-old who was bearing down on goal, however Carnesecchi did very well to stop him going around for a tap-in into an empty net with a fingertip intervention.
The game then settled into a rather repetitive rhythm whereby the Rossoneri would dominate the possession and get to the final third but lack that bit of creativity or cutting edge quality to prise the away side and their deep defence open.
The final opportunity of the first half fell to Origi, when a fizzed cross from Saelemaekers down the right side met the head of his compatriot who boomed a header over the bar.
Pioli opted to make a change having seen his side struggle to break down their opponents in the first half, however it was Rade Krunic who came on in midfield for Bennacer.
Just like they did in the first half, Milan began the second 45 minutes well on top, winning the ball high up the field with their press but again lacking end product. Saelemaekers was guilty of drilling a shot well over the bar in the 51st minute.
At times it felt as though Milan were playing a game with themselves to see how difficult they could make thinks, such as on the hour mark when Brahim Diaz missed a header from almost point blank range after a lovely dinked cross from Saelemaekers.
At the other end Cremonese could have sucker-punched Milan when a similar opportunity to Brahim’s ended with Valeri arriving at the far post to head over, albeit from a bit further out.
Two changes followed from Pioli as Rafael Leao and Olivier Giroud came on for De Ketelaere and Origi. Leao nearly made an immediate impact when a surging run down the left saw him pick out Brahim, who was unmarked but wanted too much time to steady himself and shoot so saw his effort blocked.
The final two substitutions saw Sandro Tonali and Junior Messias come on for Vranckx and Saelemaekers.
Just as the game seemed to be heading for a goalless draw, Cremonese got a goal on the break that they hadn’t really threatened to all night. A ball over the top saw Okereke up against Thiaw and Kalulu yet he somehow held off both of them to leave himself alone on goal with Maignan and he converted calmly.
It really was just not Milan’s night, and when Leao dragged a shot into the side netting from deep inside the box with next to no pressure it became apparent that a goal wasn’t coming.
However, an equaliser did finally come in the third minute of added time via quite a bizarre method. A free-kick was awarded right on the edge of the box and it seemed to almost roll through everyone, flicking off Krunic and going in at the near post.
There was even more drama to come in the dying seconds as Pickel was sent off for what appeared to be a punch or at least a forearm to the side of Tonali’s head.
