Football is full of cruel ironies. A late goal, a poor penalty decision or a defensive error can completely change the complexion of a match, or in this case, a tie.
Such an incident occurred late on in the Champions League tie between Milan and Atletico Madrid. The Rossoneri, the dominant side for a large portion of the match and appearing as a stark contrast of the Serie A Milan that has been displayed this season, were undone by a Diego Costa header seven minutes from time.
The ball came as a crushing body blow for Clarence Seedorf’s Milan side, who were astonishingly vibrant for the majority of the game, particularly the first half. Adel Taarabt was sniping and slippery, taking advantage of the space between the lines that was unusually rare sight for any football fan who has witnessed Diego Simeone’s Atletico this season.
Kaka was showing flashes of the Champions League form that won him a Ballon D’or in 2007, testing Thibault Courtois in the first half before Andrea Poli forced the Belgian to recreate Gordon Banks’ famous save against Pele in 1970, twisting his body to push the ball onto the post.
For at least an hour, Seedorf’s pre-match blurb about “Champions League DNA” no longer felt like a season ticket advertisement – it was an authentic, a promise of performance that the Rossoneri were keeping. The chances were more clear-cut for Milan, who were also comfortable with Atletico’s considerable offensive threat – the formidable Diego Costa was kept largely quiet until his game-winning nod later on.
However, as the game wore on the disparity between the two teams seemed to return to represent the bookmakers instincts prior to kick off. Milan became lethargic and their control of the match slipped minute by minute and while the goal felt like an affirmation of the irony of footballing misfortune, it was an unsurprising development.
The statistics at the end of the match paint a different picture to the one displayed on the pitch. Atleti dominated possession by a margin just shy of 40% as well as a shot advantage of 14 to 13 and doubling Milan’s on-target efforts four to two, but a third of the Spanish side’s chances came in the final 15 minutes.
Milan on the other hand, could only point to an Adil Rami free-kick from distance as the solitary chance of the final period and the vital away goal Costa secured for his flying side did not spark a reaction similar to Milan’s impressive opening gambit, which eventually proved fatal as the final whistle blew.
Seedorf can be delighted with his sides performance but his no doubt upbeat post-match team talk should rightly come with more than a tinge of regret. Milan displayed many characteristics that many Rossoneri fan hope can be replicated beyond the European stage in their plight to improve their Serie A standing, but were dashed in the final minutes by a fitter, stronger, more committed Atleti side.
Milan will later travel to Spain, to the cauldron in the Iberian capital facing a tough task of overhauling a one goal deficit at a ground that the Madrid have not lost at all season in La Liga. Once again, it’s a mountain much less to easy to climb by this result and Seedorf will rightly feel like Wednesday was a night of missed opportunities.
