A last minute Patrick Cutrone strike gave AC Milan a dramatic 2-1 win over Roma at the Stadio San Siro on Friday evening.
Franck Kessie put the Rossoneri ahead on the half hour, but Roma’s Argentine centre-back levelled the score 59 minutes in – both teams had goals ruled out by VAR – then just as it looked like the game was headed for a draw, Cutrone stepped up to hand Milan all three points.
A pretty dominant first half from Milan saw Hakan Calhanoglu, Gonzalo Higuain and Suso all test Giallorossi goalkeeper Robin Olsen. However, Giacomo Bonaventura played a ball into Riccardo Rodriguez on the left and he managed to turn Federico Fazio before crossing low along the goalline to Kessie at the back post to blast home.
After a change of formation at half time, Eusebio Di Francesco’s men were a lot more comfortable and Edin Dzeko fired just side after Higuain lost the ball on the edge of his own box.
A poor punch out to by Gianluigi Donnarumma allowed Stephan El Shaarawy to get the ball back into the box and it fell to Fazio who lashed into the bottom corner.
Moments later, a speculative long ball from Bonaventura to Higuain, put the forward in on goal, and Olsen was hesitant to rush out and Higuain rounded him to slot home for his first goal for Milan. But it was ruled out for offside after VAR review.
At the other end, Steven Nzonzi had the ball in the net for Roma, after some pinball in the box, but following VAR review it was also ruled out, this time for handball.
Then in the final minute of the game, Cutrone got free at the back post and slotted past Olsen.
DI FRANCESCO GETS IT WRONG
A first half with saw the Giallorossi almost totally dominated by Milan was partly due to Di Francesco opting for a three-man backline, it left Kolarov on the left and to a much greater degree Karsdorp on the right exposed to Milan’s wing play. To his credit the Roma coach changed things at half time, going back to a more familiar 4-2-3-1, which gave Roma much more impetus in attack, and a more of a hold in midfield. It almost worked, until Cutrone broke Roman hearts.
HIGUAIN MAKES LIFE EASIER
Often criticised for lack of hard work and being overweight, Higuain added an almost constant threat to the Milan attack and put in a real shift against Manolas. He got his goal – only for it to be ruled out by VAR – but his movement and willingness to take the ball helped create a ton of space for his teammates. His addition to the Milan attack is absolutely key and gives them an option they never had at all last season.
