AC Milan played an enthralling 1-1 draw against Cagliari at the Stadio Sant’Elia in Wednesday’s Serie A action.
Victor Ibarbo scored an excellent breakaway goal midway through the first half, but less than 10 minutes later Giacomo Bonaventura levelled for the visitors with a wonderful cross-come-shot.
Ibarbo could have capitalized on some hefty pressure that caught Milan’s defence sleeping in the opening five minutes. A cutting pass made its way straight through the Rossoneri’s 18 yard box to force Christian Abbiati into no-man’s land before the ball was squared off to the Colombian, who was denied a goal in spectacular fashion by Adil Rami’s block in front of the gaping net.
Milan responded to the early threats quickly with some confident movements and build up play. Mattia De Sciglio followed up his surging runs up the left flank with a dangerous cross into the box, which eventually found its way to Stephan El Shaarawy, but the Pharaoh was cut out by a scrambling Luca Rossettini.
As the shot count continued to rise, Cagliari found the breakthrough at the midway point of the half, as Marco Sau was unleashed up the left wing and guided a perfect cross to the sprinting Ibarbo, who touched his glancing header past Abbiati as the keeper tried to punch away the danger.
With the boisterous Sant’Elia stadium behind them, the Rossoblu continued to press and could have doubled the lead 10 minutes after the opening goal. Ibarbo turned provider for Marco Sau with a ball flicked into the box for a clear chance, but Abbiati made a crucial stop to keep his side safe.
Filippo Inzaghi’s side needed some individual brilliance by Giacomo Bonaventura to bring the scores level with 10 minutes left in the half. The Italian carried the ball from the right of midfield and opted to lob his ball over the packed defensive crowd and just under the crossbar for a miraculous equalizer, and his second goal of the season.
Moments later, Milan were painfully close to finding the lead as Fernando Torres laid off a pass to a sprinting El Shaarawy at the top of the 18, but was recklessly fouled by Luca Ceppitelli. The referee gave the advantage as Sulley Muntari could have potted in a clear goalscoring chance but fired his shot just wide of the post.
The opening minutes of the second period provided equal excitement between the attacking play of both sides along with crucial defensive displays.
Ibarbo continued to terrorize Milan’s back line with unmatched pace, but De Sciglio was able to block an early shot from the striker inside the box. At the other end, El Shaarawy looked dangerous inside the penalty area after making space for a shot, but his effort was deflected by some resistant defending.
Just before the hour mark, the Sardinian side were gifted a promising free kick opportunity when Rami brought Ibarbo down outside the penalty area. The ensuing free kick saw Andrea Cossu tee up his captain Daniele Conti for a thumping drive that pegged the outside of the left post.
A pair of last gasp chances came for both teams, with the host nearly claiming the win after Sau was left unmarked in the box and squared a ball to substitute Diego Farias, but Abbiati made a crucial reflex save to preserve the point. Nigel De Jong took a chance with a fierce long drive outside the box in the dying minutes, but his shot flew just wide.
