Yahoo Sports MN: ‘Another great opportunity wasted’ – Milan fail to capitalise on rivals’ missteps
AC Milan followed up their Supercoppa Italiana triumph by dropping points at home against Cagliari last night, continuing a frustrating trend.
As MilanNews write, the ‘Sergio Conceiçao cure has no effect in the league’. In their first match in Serie A and at San Siro under the new coach, Milan drew 1-1 against a relegation-threatened Cagliari side, who for the second time this season took a point against the Rossoneri.
Milan were riding the emotional wave of the trophy win in Riyadh and they started the game well. Conceicao chose to deploy a 4-3-3 with Yunus Musah often forced to move out wide and, on the other flank, Rafael Leao moving more centrally.
The home side controlled the game but were unable to force a way through the low block that Davide Nicola’s side deployed. Caprile in the Cagliari goal was only challenged from distance and with shots that were not very dangerous.
Alvaro Morata seemed a bit disconnected overall, but he game Milan the lead in the 51st minute. Theo Hernandez found Christian Pulisic with a nice cross to the far post and his volley was saved onto the post with the Spaniard on hand to tap in.
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The Diavolo then had the game exactly where they wanted it, yet in the 55th minute they surrendered the lead again. Youssouf Fofana made a bad pass and then didn’t bring his man down on the counter given he was already on a yellow card. Mike Maignan failed to stop a tame shot from Zortea.
There were penalty shouts for a stamp on Tammy Abraham and a push on Alex Jimenez, yet the English forward ended up the villain after his Supercoppa heroics. He missed a header from point-blank range, then a one-on-one chance.
It was another great opportunity wasted for Milan who could have gained points on the teams above them, given that Lazio and Juventus had been held to 1-1 draws prior.
