Brahim Diaz bundled over the line in an early goal earned with sheer determination, but Milan will rue wasting two free headers in a 1-0 Champions League Round of 16 win over Antonio Conte’s Tottenham.
Both sides went into this game off fairly poor recent form and with numerous problems. The Rossoneri stuck to an experimental three-man defence, but still missed Fikayo Tomori, Mike Maignan, Ismael Bennacer, Sergino Dest, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Alessandro Florenzi, with Yacine Adli and Aster Vranckx ineligible. Antonio Conte had Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg suspended, plus Hugo Lloris, Rodrigo Bentancur, Ryan Sessegnon and Yves Bissouma out of action.
Milan broke through early with a goal of sheer determination, as Theo Hernandez won the header from Cristian Romero to burst down the left, his angled drive was parried by Fraser Forster at the near post, then he made an extraordinary save on the Brahim Diaz rebound, but the Spaniard nodded over the line at the third time of asking.
Emerson Royal fired straight at Ciprian Tatarusanu, while Theo Hernandez squirmed away from Romero again to earn a corner, but Tatarusanu ran a risk when sprinting outside his goal only to not kick the clearance far enough.
Alexis Saelemaekers made a great run to stop Son Heung-min reaching the Emerson Royal cross from 12 yards, but Son was already clearly offside when he tested the goalkeeper and Harry Kane’s rebound hit the crossbar.
Romero’s nightmare continued as straight after the restart he was very fortunate to only receive a yellow card for a studs-up tackle on Sandro Tonali’s ankle.
Several times Leao got away from the first man, but was unable to then finish off the chance or pick the right pass, including one over-hit assist that would’ve sent Theo Hernandez clear.
Substitute Richarlison’s strike was charged down in the box after Skipp pulled back from the by-line, but Milan wasted two massive opportunities in the space of a couple of minutes. First Charles De Ketelaere with his first touch of the game incredibly turned a free header wide on Giroud’s knockdown, then moments later Malick Thiaw also nodded off target from six yards.
Sarr had an effort slightly deflected wide and Eric Dier was booked, so will be suspended for the second leg on March 8.
Rafael Leao could’ve gone clear on a Giroud pass when he sprung the offside trap, but the first touch was terrible and let him down.
Milan 1-0 Tottenham
Brahim Diaz 7 (M)
Milan: Tatarusanu; Kalulu, Thiaw, Kjaer; Saelemaekers (Messias 77), Tonali (Pobega 86), Krunic, Theo Hernandez; Brahim Diaz (De Ketelaere 77), Giroud, Leao (Rebic 90)
Tottenham:Â Forster; Romero, Dier, Lenglet (Davies 81); Emerson Royal, Skipp, Sarr, Perisic; Kulusevski (Richarlison 70), Kane, Son (Danjuma 81)
Ref: Schärer (SUI)
Who would have thought Milan were capable of beating an epl side after 15 years of woeful results.
This is only their 2nd win from 16 games against English teams in that time.
Hopefully they knock Spurs out in the return, though the tie is still 50-50, I think.