AC Milan Advances to Champions League Semifinals after 16 Years with 1-1 Draw Against SSC Napoli

NAPLES – After sixteen years, the football players of AC Milan will appear in the semi-finals of the Champions League. The “Rossoneri” advanced over SSC Napoli in a lineup with Slovakian representative Stanislav Lobotka, when they won 1:0 in the opening quarter-final and drew 1:1 in Tuesday’s rematch.

Napoli started without Andre Anguissa and stopper Kim Min-jae, but the gunner Victor Osimhen returned to the attack. In the beginning, the home team squeezed the opponent and the first 20 minutes were played for only one goal. However, SSC took advantage of the pressure with only a couple of half-chances and could collect after the first serious action of the guests. Mario Rui fouled Rafael Leao in the penalty area and the referee pointed to the penalty spot.

However, the experienced Olivier Giroud missed the penalty. The French gunner did not succeed even a few minutes later, when his shot was again caught by goalkeeper Alex Meret. The match was played at a high pace and with a lot of hard tackles. It was worse for the home team, who had to replace Rui and Matteo Politano already in the first act. They traded Hirving Lozano for Mathias Oliver.

The changes took their toll, at the very end of the half he dragged the ball from in front of his penalty area to that of the opponent’s Leao and Giroud already converted his third chance. In added time, Osimhen’s goal was disallowed for his hand. Napoli didn’t do well in front even after changing sides, they lacked more calmness and accuracy in crosses, final passes and especially in finishing.

In the 82nd minute, there was a glimmer of hope for the home team, but it was extinguished by Chviča Kvaracchelia, who, like Giroud, did not convert the penalty in the first half. Osimhen’s goal to make it 1:1 came late. Napoli appeared in the quarter-finals for the first time in history.

rematch of the LM quarterfinals:
SSC Napoli – AC Milan 1:1 (0:1)

Goals: 90.+3 Osimhen – 43. Giroud. Referee: Marciniak (Poland), ŽK: di Lorenzo, Olivera – Hernandez, Maignan.

Naples: Meret – di Lorenzo, Rrahmani (74. Östigard), Jesus, Rui (34. Olivera) – Ndombele (63. Elmas), LOBOTKA, Zielinski (74. Raspadori) – Politano (34. Lozano), Osimhen, Kvaracchelia

Milan: Maignan – Calabria, Kjaer, Tomori, Hernandez – Krunič, Tonali – Diaz (59. Messias), Bennacer, Leao (84. Saelemaekers) – Giroud (68. Origi)

/first match 0:1, AC advanced/

• Author: © List
• Source: TASR