Milan 3-2: Rebic winner at the death gives Rossoneri huge three points in thriller

By Oliver Fisher -

Ante Rebic was the hero for AC Milan as he netted a double – including a 93rd minute winner – to secure a 3-2 victory against Udinese.

A crowd of over 60,000 at San Siro were treated to quite a spectacle in Sunday’s matinee, but Milan were pegged back early through Jens Stryger Larsen’s impressive curling effort.

Ante Rebic made an almost instant impact after coming off the bench by levelling just after half time, and Theo Hernandez’s strike looked to have sealed the win for the Rossoneri inside the final 20 minutes.

However, Kevin Lasagna again looked like being Milan’s kryptonite with a late equaliser, yet Rebic netted again in the third minute of added time with a composed finish to win the game and send the Diavolo seventh.

Stefano Pioli was forced into three changes from the XI that beat Cagliari a week ago as Andrea Conti and Simon Kjaer came in for the injured Davide Calabria and Mateo Musacchio, while Giacomo Bonaventura got the nod of Hakan Calhanoglu – also injured – on the left.

It was the away side who got the scoring underway with the first opportunity of the game as Gianluigi Donnarumma came flying out of his goal for a loose ball and didn’t make it; Larsen putting the ball into an empty net albeit with an excellent finish.

Not long after Milan had a chance to level from a free-kick wide on the left side, but Theo Hernandez directed his header over the bar.

The away side almost doubled their advantage in the 16th minute as a pull-back found Kevin Lasagna unmarked near the penalty spot, however he blasted his effort over the bar first time.

Milan began to apply some pressure midway through the half and thought they had a penalty shout when Rafael Leao’s cross struck the arm of Becao, but nothing was given after a VAR check. From the resulting corner, Romagnoli headed wide from close range.

A scuffed shot from Hernandez found its way to Castillejo 12 minutes before the break but Juan Musso recovered well to save when it looked like he was wrong footed.

Hernandez was the supplier once again moments later as his low cross almost found Ibrahimovic’s near post run, though it was scrambled away for a corner.

Pioli made a change at the break as Ante Rebic came on for the ineffectual Bonaventura, but it was Donnarumma who was tested first as he saved well down low from a Lasagna shot on the break.

Castillejo had a huge chance to make it 1-1 moments later as Leao put him in behind with a perfect pass; the Spaniard scuffing his effort into Musso’s hands.

However it was 1-1 less than 60 seconds later and the equaliser came from an unlikely source. Andrea Conti found space on the right side of the box to pull the ball across goal and Rebic was waiting to thump the ball home from close range, scoring his first goal for the club.

Milan were caught out at the back five minutes before the hour mark as Mandragora was in acres of space inside the box, yet Donnarumma was somehow even to his effort from close range.

An outrageous piece of skill from Samu Castillejo sent the Rossoneri away in the 65th minute, but Leao hit his first time shot straight at the keeper from the Spaniard’s feed after Rebic had his initial attempt blocked.

Leao – who had caused havoc down the left side all game – then clipped in a cross to Ibrahimovic, but the Swede couldn’t get enough power behind his header and it was easily saved.

Udinese would ultimately be punished for their wastefulness as Milan took the lead just inside the final 20 minutes. Theo Hernandez was once again the man on the scoresheet as he netted a screamer from outside the area following a clearance from a corner to score his sixth of the season.

Ibrahimovic had a huge chance to seal the three points with six minutes to go as Rafael Leao found him in space, though he couldn’t keep his shot down.

Ultimately that would come back to bite Milan as Udinese levelled the game straight up the other end. For the third straight year it was Kevin Lasagna who scored against the Diavolo; this time a precise near post header that beat Donnarumma and nestled in the far corner.

It could have been 3-2 to the Bianconeri moments later as Nestorovski had a huge chance from a Lasagna feed, but the Macedonia international dragged his effort wide.

Rade Krunic – who came on for Castillejo – could have given Milan the lead once again from Ibrahimovic’s flick-on, however he couldn’t bring the ball under control as it ran through to Musso despite getting a touch on it.

Just as it looked like the game was heading towards a draw, it was Rebic who once again provided the heroics in the third minute of three added. The Croatian controlled the ball inside the area and despite having options left and right, he took on the shot and nestled it perfectly inside the right post.

Tags AC Milan Ante Rebic Milan-Udinese Theo Hernandez
Serie A Standings

Live football scores . Current table, fixtures & results.