Suso stunner not enough for AC Milan

Suso stunner not enough for AC Milan

Date: 4th February 2018 at 4:49pm
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AC Milan have not won four successive Serie A matches since April 2014 and that wait continued as they threw away a lead to draw 1-1 away to Udinese on Sunday.

A brilliant strike from Suso gave Milan the lead but Davide Calabria’s dismissal in the second half changed the game and allowed the hosts to draw level.

Giacomo Bonaventura has been in fine form since Gennaro Gattuso’s appointment and the former Atalanta star had the game’s first chance with barely 30 seconds played. Ignazio Abate’s cross from the right fell to the midfielder on the edge of the box but his volleyed effort was saved by Albano Bizzarri.

Milan had accumulated more shots from outside the box than any other side in Serie A and it was through another of these that they took the lead. A stunner from Suso gave Milan the lead before 10 minutes were played. Franck Kessie will be handed an undeserving assist as he played the ball into the Spaniard’s feet from the centre circle, with Suso then turning his marker and driving a shot into the top corner from 35-yards, which clipped the crossbar on its way in.

Kevin Lasagna had a good chance to draw the Zebrette level not long after. Antonin Barak slipped Jakub Jankto through down the left and his delivered a pinpoint cross onto the forward’s head. Climbing above Alessio Romagnoli, though, he could not get his header on goal when he should have made Gianluigi Donnarumma work.

It was a frustrating start for Hakan Calhanoglu who disappointed with a free kick and then sliced another effort on the edge of the box when he would have expected to test Bizzarri.

Lasagna had another chance just before the break. As a cross came in from the left he moved well and got in front of Leonardo Bonucci but having gone beyond the front post, he couldn’t quite get his header on target and it hit the side netting.

Andre Silva had a chance after the break. Suso got to the byline and hung up a cross into the centre but the Portuguese was always moving backwards and couldn’t get over the ball, leaving his stretched headed effort going over the crossbar.

Calhanaglu continued to try his luck. Another shot from 20-yards was deflected behind for a corner.

Milan’s resolve was tested as Davide Calabria was shown a red card halfway through the second half after picking up a second yellow card for a needless foul. Instantly, Udinese went up and almost levelled. Jankto climbed highest in the box but his header was saved well by Donnarumma.

The teen’s afternoon got busier then as he was forced to come out of his box moments later to dispossess Jankto.

Udinese drew level in comical fashion. Lasagna got the the byline and tried to pull back a cross which deflected off Bonucci which in turn threw Donnarumma and the ball bounced off the goalkeeper and into the net.

If either team was to steal the points towards the end it was the hosts but a combination of a lack of real quality and fatigue appeared to take its toll in the decisive moments of their late attacks.

Substitute Nikola Kalinic did have a rare chance for the Rossoneri but failed to make it count.

MATCH FACTS

  • AC Milan have played five consecutive Serie A games without losses (3W 2D) for the first time since March 2017.
  • After five consecutive wins, Udinese have drawn three out of five Serie A games (1W 1L).
  • AC Milan have lost pointS from a leading situation for the second time in Serie A current season (the first against Benevento).
  • Suso has scored four goals with shots from outside box in Serie A current season.
  • Suso has scored five out of six goals in Serie A this season in games played on the road.
  • Udinese have conceded the most goals in the first 15 minutes of games in Serie A current season (level to SPAL, Cagliari and Benevento).
  • AC Milan have received the most red cards in Serie A this season (6).
  • Tonight AC Milan have conceded the first own goal of Serie A this season.

 

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