AC Milan produced what can only be described as a miraculous comeback against Parma, scoring twice in added time to earn a 3-2 win at San Siro.
Parma twice led during the game through Matteo Cancellieri and Enrico Del Prato who scored either side of Christian Pulisic’s equaliser from the spot, and they looked to be on course for a league double over Milan.
However, in the six minutes of added time something magical happened. Tijjani Reijnders latched onto a Yunus Musah through ball to level it one-on-one, then a couple of minutes later Samuel Chukwueze bundled in a late winner off the bench.
It was an emotionally exhausting game in truth and one whereby the Gialloblu might feel a bit hard done by, but considering the other results already this weekend it is a three points of immense magnitude.
Sergio Conceicao made two changes to the starting line-up that beat Girona in midweek, with Christian Pulisic and Davide Calabria coming in for Ismael Bennacer (with Yunus Musah dropping back to midfield) and Emerson Royal respectively.
Parma started the game in 15th place in the table and just two points above the drop zone, but you would not have been able to tell based on the start to the game. The away side had plenty more of the ball, causing panic when a cross to Djuric was headed back across goal but thankfully not close enough to the arriving runner.
Milan then got themselves on top of the game and with a second consecutive corner in the 11th minute they should have taken the lead. A ball played down the left side was crossed and fell to Matteo Gabbia alone on the penalty spot, who swung at it fiercely but missed the ball almost entirely.
The decision making continued to let Milan down whenever they got into the areas to hurt Parma inside the opening 20 minutes, though Rafael Leao felt that a penalty should have been given when he went down in a heap attempting to latch onto a cut-back from Theo, with nothing given.
At the mid-way point in the first half another opportunity went begging. Pulisic twisted and turned inside the box attempting to create room for a shot and when it was poked away to Leao’s feet many expected the net to ripple, yet he lashed it well over and wide from about 12 yards out.
Just like he did in the first meeting this season, Cancellieri scored against Milan and this time it was the opener. Theo was at fault as he has been a few times in recent weeks, slipping as a ball was switched to his side and then standing off the winger, who cut in onto his preferred left foot and curled it into the back of the net with Mike Maignan helpless.
It looked briefly as though Milan had found a very quick leveller when Youssouf Fofana charged forward and slipped Alvaro Morata in behind, with the Spaniard finishing nicely, yet he had strayed a yard offside in making his run and the flag rightly went up.
Ten minutes before the interval, Milan were given the chance to level from the spot and it was a bizarre spot kick to give away. As a corner came in from the left, Suzuki in the Parma game shoved Pavlovic to the floor with two hands before punching the ball, leaving the referee no choice but to point for a penalty.
Pulisic was the man who took on the responsibility from 12 yards and he buried it absolutely emphatically. Suzuki guessed the right way while trying to atone for his error, yet he didn’t even get close to it due to the power and precision.
Just moments after Tijjani Reijnders had seen a low attempt well saved by Suzuki, the moment that was feared came as Fofana dragged his man down on the counter and got a yellow card, which means he will miss the derby against Inter.
Conceicao made the rather bold decision to make a couple of changes at half-time with Davide Bartesaghi and Ismael Bennacer coming on, replacing Theo and Leao which made it interesting to see what the system might be.
Bartesaghi almost got himself straight into the action in the ideal way with a low cross to Morata that was flicked on goal and saved by Suzuki. The striker then went down while going for the rebound wanting a penalty, and there was a VAR check to confirm an offside given.
Hernani provided a reminder of the threat that he poses with shots from distance as he fizzed a rocket of a shot just over the crossbar from 25 yards out. Maignan was at full stretch and looked to have it covered if on target.
Just 11 minutes into the second half another two changes came with Morata and Fofana making way for Tammy Abraham and Samuel Chukwueze, an attacking switch from Conceicao.
On the hour mark Suzuki was called into action for the first time in the half, with Reijnders dribbling the ball forward and side-footing a shot that was heading towards the bottom right corner before being turned away.
Inside the final 20 minutes the game began to open up a bit, and Reijnders perhaps should have fed the ball just a few yards to his left inside the box where Bennacer was open rather than shooting, which was deflected over. At the other end, Maignan thwarted Almqvist who was bearing down on goal on the break but shot centrally.
Shortly after Calabria thumped a cross out of play that was nowhere near anyone, he was taken off in place of Luka Jovic.
With 10 minutes left on the clock, Parma got themselves back in front as they had threatened to on the counter. An awful giveaway while trying to keep possession at the back saw the visitors break, and a neat one-two allowed Camara to get in behind. Maignan saved well but the rebound fell to Delprato who tapped it in while slipping over.
As the fans began to get incredibly restless with the prospect of another league defeat beckoning, it looked like Milan had snatched a point when Pavlovic rose highest at the far post to head in a Chukwueze cross brilliantly. However, VAR intervened because of an offside, so it was back to panic stations.
In the second minute of six added on at the end of the game, Milan levelled and this time it counted. Reijnders made a darting run in behind that was found by a perfectly weighted through ball from Musah, and the Dutchman kept his composure when through on goal, slotting it past Suzuki at the near post.
Then, something even more miraculous happened as the Rossoneri got themselves a dramatic later winner in the fifth minute of added time. A cross from the left was met by the head of Pavlovic and the ball dropped in behind to Chukwueze who bundled it past Suzuki into the back of the net. A lengthy check for offside rendered the goal fair, and San Siro exploded.
One of the worst displays I’ve seen in my life by Milan. This victory is typical of us the last 2-3 years. It will distract the fans and other people into thinking we’re making progress when the 90 minutes before injury time were some of the worst, most lifeless football I’ve seen. If we somehow survive against Inter next weekend it will be a miracle.
You are not a true fan if you don’t seen the issues with this club right now.
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Worst game in Conceicao era. Pavlovic gets a + and thats about it.
How many times can Milan recover?
Pavlovic was the man of the match no doubt,he won the penalty,he assisted chuku for the last goal,he scored but it was ruled out and he ran like a pittbull chasing down everyone.dont you dare sell him cardinale.
Ain’t this what Fonsy was complaining about? Just imagine the weak mentality of those two. So nonchalant! Yeah it was a happy ending but seriously something is not right in the head of some players. Oh they should sell Pavlovic while they have the chance.
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How on earth did we get away with that. Magical feeling in the last few minutes, awful feeling for the first 90…
I guess it shows both sides, we’ve got a team with severe problems but some guys who will really fight for it and aren’t giving up when they look beaten, even ones constantly written off on here – classic ‘it doesn’t matter how they go in’ for the winner… The game should have had another 5 goals in it.
Still think Serie A will need 9 UCL places for us to have any chance of qualifying….. But for now happy Sunday all.
What happened in the end after the match got over between Conceciao and Calabria?
There’s a video on twitter of Conceicao totally loosing it at him.
You can’t see Calabria well but he appears to be fighting back.
I would be willing to bet that Conceicao said something to the effect that “Kyle Walker wouldn’t let that happen”…….I like Calabria, however you need a bully on that back line, not a politician”.
Painful game to watch. Pioli era is not looking all that bad now… having said that, getting these difficult wins could be good to build momentum and confidence so I guess we need to focus on those
All I can say is WtF are we thinking trying to sell Pavlovic??
Not expecting this level of performance every game but just his workrate and desire should be enough to keep him in the squad.
He was immense. Deserved a goal and an assist to go with his defence efforts.
This is typical for amateurs. I think we have many of them in management, owner is big football amateur. And unfortunately a lot of ac milan players are amateurs.
Theo and Leao are first, Calabria second…
Maybe Pulisic and Maignan are professionals. All others are for Serie C league.
Only Pavlovic and Mike did themselves justice today.. there is so much to do… striker situation is a huge issue now, we have nothing going forwards.
Noticeably Pulisic and Reijnders have dropped in from which is to be expected so the whole team has dropped off. When they are off there is no depth to replace them
I mean, compared to Fonseca era where players visibly give up when trailing, Milan is progressing. But yes it is not good enough progress. The intensity, the will, the passion should be from the start, not from when trailing.
But why the gaslighting tho? Same thing could be said the same that you are not a true fan if you can see the progress.
I think it was Terracciano who said Conceicão is working “mainly on mentality and less on tactics”.
Well the mentality is clearly improving, let’s maybe get to the tactics Sergio..?
Cp11 on corners got the penalty and cp directing ppl on the field helped in the second half. But these was a tough watch. Pav mvp but chuk mvp
En este chat en esta página no se si son de VERDAD HINCHAS DEL AC MILAN O NO!!! como puedes criticar una victoria así??? O se les olvidó a todos a con el mediocre de Fonseca fue DERROTA!!!!?? SOLO DIGO!!! FORZA MILAN
Calabria disrespectable. It is not accepted from player of Milan and former captain. I always believe the Milan problem lies in the weak top management
The mentality of Leao and Theo is shocking, bizarre and disgraceful. Milan should seriously sell these players after getting rid of the 3 bozos in management Ibra, Moncada and Furlani. Smh
Morata in junk
He can’t score to save his life
What a sh*** player
Morata has spent more than a decade with top clubs and one of the most successful national teams with about a 1 in 3 ratio…..
After being the starting forward for Spain all summer long and after running himself into the ground last year for Simeone, I’d suggest he’s probably tired.
Hopefully a good pre-season will bring him back to his best and it’s not a case of ‘too many miles on the clock’, but I think he and Hernandez are really struggling with fatigue this year, neither had any real rest in the summer.
Serves me right for turning the game off in the 75th minute. I missed the comeback. …….not really, this win proves nothing .The Rossoneri were NOT lucky ,Parma stunk and were unlucky. Good teams win in a methodical manner. I will die a Rossoneri fan,but hopefully not as painful as watching today’s match.
Welldone AC Millan