AC Milan Primavera’s UEFA Youth League dream came crashing to an end in the final as they lost 3-0 against Olympiacos in Nyon.
All three goals for the Greek side came in the second half, and the avalanche was started by a very questionable penalty decision for a handball on Stalmach. Noah Raveyre guessed the right way but Mouzakitis’ penalty found the bottom corner to make it 1-0.
That was the first of a one-two punch that knocked Ignazio Abate’s side out as they then got a second goal with Papakanellos, who first got past Stalmach inside the box and lifted the ball over Raveyre to nestle it inside the far post.
In the 66th minute they got a third goal through Bakoulas, who latched onto a cross with an incredible overhead kick that dipped inside the near post.
Milan had chance after chance to get themselves back into the game, to the extent that they can actually consider themselves unlucky to have lost. Sia had two shots well saved, Zeroli fired over and Sina made a double stop on Sala and Simmelhack.
Although it didn’t end the way that they wanted, it was still an incredible and historic run for Abate’s side that took them past the likes of Braga, Real Madrid and Porto.
Damn we lost, we lose composure like how Brazil did against German. Olympiacos deserve to win, they simply played better
Simply never got going until it was too late. Their number 10 is a phenomenal footballer
Abate is dull and intranstive coach
He is just liike interms of tactics and insosistance
As.well. as bad strategies.
He ia to be chnaged rigjt kniw
Did you watch the game? Abate had nothing to do with the loss as we did play well in the second half (likely on his instructions). It is true that we didn’t play well in the first half but then we did keep things together; the first half ended 0-0.
Then there was the second half, when this game was won by Olympiacos’ goalkeeper, period. Not to forget, their PK wasn’t one.
Without that PK and with a less good opponent goalkeeper we would have won 5-2.
if a coach wins all matches you praise and if he loses one. you want him sacked and change.. football is a game is 2 you either win or loss, cuz to me draw is not a win. the coach and the lads deserve some praise and respect getting to the final for the very first time in history. stop the act at of condemning
I watched the game. Olympiacos have a truly unbelievable goalkeeper. With someone less good we could have won this game by something like 5-3. Or 5-2 because that PK wasn’t one. Or even 5-1 because the disorganization that hit our boys after the PK did produce their second goal.
Wow, we should sell Maignan and hire this guy and promote him immediately to the first team, despite his youth. The saves he provided were among the most impressive I’ve ever seen.
Yes, the 3-0 score doesn’t depict what really happened in this game. First, the bad refereeing decision to award that PK; our players being young suffered with the blow, and got temporarily disorganized, so that they scored a second one two minutes later.
And then we produced spectacular shots, tremendous scoring opportunities, always thwarted by their goalkeeper. The ONE time he was beaten, the ball exploded on the post.
Then they scored a true golazo with a perfect bicycle kick. We continued to try to score and continued to be stopped by their goalie, so that was that. 0-3 full time.
I won’t say it’s unfair. Well, sure, the PK was unfair. But the phenomenal saves, I can’t say were unfair because a goalkeeper is indeed a member of a squad, and by having such an extraordinary one, they secured the win; there’s merit in that.
So sad for our boys. They deserved better but the circumstances were such that they ended up losing by a large score. Terribly sad, but it happens.
Milan maybe need to hire psychologist in certain times to up the morale..or maybe somebody like Maldini as role model
I think our boys reacted well and had a lot of energy trying to equalize. Yes, they did get disorganized right after the blow of a ref conceding a PK where there was none. They are under 19. It’s not easy; they are boys, not men, so they suffered with the unfair award of a PK; two minutes later, still under that impact, they allowed a second goal.
From that point on they fought hard and had several scoring opportunities. I don’t think it was an issue of poor mentality or low morale. They kept fighting until the last second, and did well but were always stopped by an extraordinary goalkeeper.
Disapointing performance as we didnt really show up before we were 0-3 down and even then we kept missing sitters. Their goalie cam take some pride in keeping us from scoring but we should at the bare minimum have scored a couple of goals.
Amazing bicycle kick by barkoulas.
Regardless of todays bad performance i think the lads can take a great deal of pride in how we at least whent in the tournament and hopefully we will have better luck next season and win it then.
Actually, right before their first goal (out of a non-existing PK), we had 3 tremendous scoring opportunities; two saved by the goalie, one a post hit. We had already showed up (we came out of the halftime break, playing way better than Olympiacos) and we had equalized the offensive actions in terms of goal-scoring opportunities: they had 3 in first half, we had 3 in the beginning of the second half, when, against the run of play, they got that PK that was unfairly called, scored, and got a second 2 minutes later, out of our boys being temporarily disorganized.
I don’t think our performance was that disappointing. I think we were unlucky in how things unfolded.
Im not really sure im agree that the penalty was unfair as it hit his arm but that might be down to interpretation of the rules. Well i might have been a bit harsh but i think we looked somewhat shaky throughout the match but played the best after we were down 0-3 but we definitely should have bagged some goals but in the end we didnt.
This was like watching a carbon copy of Milan the last month: a slow start, a dodgy penalty, bad defending, multiple chances but can’t score and it winds up 3-0. I’m pretty much expecting the same tonight with Inter.
For all the folks saying to hire Abate clearly it’s a knee jerk reaction to wanting to have nothing to do with Pioli. Abate clearly coaches boys on a much lower level of play of course. Nothing in that game tells me hey let’s hire him. If anything maybe Olympiacos coach is who we should look at. They had a clear playing style and a system much superior to Abate’s. What makes it worse, both Bayern and Porto are superior to the teams in the final. Similarly, Simic had a stinker (caught repeatedly out of position which I’ve been saying was his weakness) -but it could also do with the instructions given to him by Abate. Nsiala seems a much better centre back imo. Why he wasn’t used during our injury crisis esp in the UCL (as Simic was unavailable) I hv no clue.
Such is the game of football. If Scotti shit had gone in …
Plus their keeper made a crazy triple save, you know it wasn’t going to be your day
I know I’m sounding harsh but it’s reality. Anyways good job anyways making the final. Hope Abate coaches a mid or low table team next year
For all the folks saying to hire Abate clearly it’s a knee j.erk reaction to wanting to have nothing to do with Pioli. Abate clearly coaches boys on a much lower level of play of course. Nothing in that game tells me hey let’s hire him. If anything maybe Olympiacos coach is who we should look at. They had a clear playing style and a system much superior to Abate’s. What makes it worse, both Bayern and Porto are superior to the teams in the final. Similarly, Simic had a stinker (caught repeatedly out of position which I’ve been saying was his weakness) -but it could also do with the instructions given to him by Abate. Nsiala seems a much better centre back imo. Why he wasn’t used during our crisis esp in the UCL I dunno.
Anyways I know im sounding harsh but it’s reality.
Sometimes the ball doesn’t go on into the goal like Scotti’s attempt and the triple save by their goalie. Good just by the lads to get to the finals. Hope Abate coaches a low or mid table team next year
At a time i asked if there was voodoo in olypiacos post. Milan number 21 should be promoted asap. Lets go fir olympiakos goalie and their number 10.