Milan extended their good run in Serie A by picking up their fourth consecutive victory (2-3) in their visit to Udinese. It was a match with constant alternatives, marked by a five-minute break when goalkeeper Mike Maignan came off after being the victim of racist insults and decided in injury time by Noah Okafor’s goal.
Milan, comfortably in third place in Serie A and six points behind leaders Inter, began to completely dominate the match and, after two good chances from Olivier Giroud, opened the scoring through Ruben Loftus-Cheek half an hour into the game when he pinpointed a cross from the left by Theo Hernández.
Maignan retired due to racist insults
Moments later, the incident of the fight took place. A section of Udinese fans chanted racist chants Mike Maignan and the French goalkeeper left the grass as a sign of rejection. His teammates joined him in the locker room and, after being stopped for five minutes, the game resumed with the French goalkeeper between the posts.
This episode seems to weaken Milan at the same time that the figure of Lazar Samardzic, who tied with a good shot that hit the post from the front of the area after cutting in Simon Kjaer (41′) and a few seconds later the Serbian midfielder scored again with a shot that went wide.
After the break the match remained balanced, with no clear dominator until Udinese, with resilience, went for the match against a fading Milan. Maignan did well to take a point-blank shot from Martin Payero, but on the ensuing play Florian Thauvin took advantage of a mistake of understanding between Tijani Reijnders and Theo Hernandez to beat his compatriot with a shot that beat a Maignan who lacked reflexes this time (62′).
Jovic scored again and Okafor the sentences
Stefano Pioli turned to Luka Jovic Seeing that his team was stranded and the former Madrid player was once again decisive for his team by entering the line of the ball that was denied by the crossbar after a shot by Giroud (82′). It was the fourth goal in his last five league games for the resurgent Serbian striker.
If Jovic agreed with Pioli on his change, he did the same Noah Okafor in stoppage time to give victory to a Milan that came out on top when it looked certain to lose. The Swiss awarded a corner which Giroud extended with a header and, after controlling with his chest, fired at the far post.
A harsh outcome for Udinese, who are still a point away from the relegation positions.
match lineup
40
2
12
31
18
13
4
24
17
37
Eleven
16
2
19
7
24
46
8
14
9
Eleven
10
Bluenergy Stadium
Mike Maignan16
51′
59′
David Calabria2
74′
Four. five’
83′
Theo Hernandez19
87′
Yacine Adli7
Simon Kjær24
77′
Matteo Gabbia46
Ruben Loftus-Cheek8
30′
41′
59′
Tijjani Reijnders14
67′
70′
75′
Olivier Giroud9
Four. five’
Christian PulisicEleven
74′
64′
Rafael Leao10
94′
Replacements
Marco Sportiello57
Antonio Mirante83
Alessandro Florenzi42
74′
Alex Jimenez74
59′
Jan-Carlo Simic82
Luke Romero18
Filippo Terracciano38
Yunus Musah80
94′
83′
Kevin Zeroli85
Luka Jovicfifteen
74′
82′
59′
Noah Okafor17
67′
92′
75′
Chaka Traore70
Four. five’
55′
61′
coach
Gabriele Cioffi
Stefano Pioli
Source: La Verdad
I’m Rose Herman and I work as an author for Today Times Live. My expertise lies in writing about sports, a passion of mine that has been with me since childhood. As part of my job, I provide comprehensive coverage on everything from football to tennis to golf.
