MILAN (ITALPRESS) – Milan continues on the positive trail after the draw in the league derby and beats Roma in the quarterfinals of the Coppa Italia: a decisive double from one of the evening’s exes, Abraham, added to the gem signed by Joao Felix, who was immediately decisive; in between, Dovbyk’s goal to make the loss less bitter for the Capitolini. Now the Rossoneri await in the semifinals the winner between Inter and Lazio, who will play each other next Feb. 26. Milan’s newest arrivals, Gimenez, Sottil and Felix himself, start from the bench. Conceicao also surprises everyone by throwing Jimenez starting in place of Leao. Ranieri also makes a few surprise choices, most notably Shomurodov in place of Dovbyk, as well as Pisilli for Pellegrini. In defense, however, here is Celik along with Hummels and N’Dicka. After an initial study phase, it is Roma that shows itself with Dybala and Shomurodov, but at the first opportunity, at 16′, the hosts pass: Svilar parries Reijnders’ shot, the ball reaches Theo who sends back in the middle and finds Abraham, who scores with a remarkable elevation. An uncertainty by Maignan on an innocuous shot by Shomurodov frightens the Rossoneri, who also have to deal with an incredible counterattack wasted by Theo Hernandez due to a defective control, to say the least. Soon after, Tomori anticipates Svilar’s header on Pulisic’s cross but sends it high. In the second half, Roma grew, hitting a crossbar with Pisilli and engaging Maginan with Dybala. But right at the height of the moment of difficulty, Milan found the double at 42′ again through Abraham after a Hernandez insertion that caught the entire Giallorossi defensive department off guard. Ranieri turned the tables by bringing in Dovbyk and Pellegrini on the return from halftime, and the Ukrainian immediately repaid the coach’s choice by shortening the gap in 54′ with an easy support on Angelino’s cross. Five minutes later Gimenez and Joao Felix made their Rossoneri debuts. And it was precisely the two new signings who packed Milan’s third goal in 71′: the Mexican sent the Portuguese deep, who beat Svilar with a delightful lob. Roma found the goal again a few minutes later thanks to Reijnders’ own goal, but later Dovbyk’s offside at the start of the action was detected, invalidating everything. The episode dampened the Giallorossi’s momentum and allowed Milan to manage the final minutes and take home a berth in the Coppa Italia semifinals.- Image Photo -(ITALPRESS).
