MILAN (ITALPRESS) – A lackluster AC Milan celebrated a heavy victory in the Champions League group stage 2-1 at home against Red Star, the protagonist of an excellent performance. It’s an Abraham paw almost at the expiration to give his side the three points. The first chance is for the hosts and comes on 14′. Morata recovers the ball in the middle of the field and launches Leao, who burns the direct marker at speed, enters the area and goes for a left-footed shot but Gutesa saves for a corner. Three minutes later, the Rossoneri’s defense swerves and dangerously leaves a ball in the box on which Maksimovic ventures, whose left-footed shot hits the crossbar with the goalkeeper beaten. At 28′ Fonseca is forced to insert Chukwueze for Loftus-Cheek, who is suffering from a muscle injury. A minute later, it is Morata who leaves the field with a physical problem. Abraham enters in his place. The newcomer goes close to scoring in 32′, when he kicks a free kick from 25 yards just wide. The first half seems headed toward 0-0, but at 42′ it’s Leao who unlocks the match. Fofana fishes the Portuguese with a great throw from the back, the number 10 tames the ball beautifully and beats Gutesa on the way out with a fine left-footer under the crossbar. In the midst of the recovery, Leao verticalizes for Abraham who goes for a shot in precarious balance, but the goalkeeper deflects it into the corner. It goes to rest at 1-0. The Serbs got off to a good start and it took Maignan’s hands to save a close-range right-footed shot by Mimovic, well cleared by Ivanic, for a corner. After an initial forcing by the guests, it was Abraham who gobbled up a possible 2-0 lead at 9′ when, just a few steps from the goal, he flicked a shot on a previously slipped defender. Milan played with fire and at 22′ conceded 1-1. Musah lost a naïve ball in a dangerous area and Radonjic, formerly of Torino, moved the ball to his left-hand side, hurling a beautiful shot into the corner that became impregnable for Maignan. The 7-time European champions attacked in a haphazard manner, but found the winning goal in 42′. Chukwueze bowled in the middle, the newly entered Camarda screwed his header well finding Gutesa ready to save on the crossbar, but on the rebound it was Abraham the quickest of all to rebound into the goal. Opponent protests over a possible push by Gabbia just before the Englishman’s shot were in vain. Red Star’s final assault did not have the desired effects and the result would not change anymore. Milan thus picks up three crucial points and, with two days to go, moves just one length behind the top eight in the standings that would guarantee access to the Champions League round of 16.- Photo Ipa Agency -(ITALPRESS).
