Zlatan Ibrahimovic became Serie A’s oldest ever goalscorer with a retaken penalty, but Milan suffered a painful 3-1 defeat away to Udinese that further dampened their top four hopes.
Curiously, the last home win for Andrea Sottil’s team was also against a Milanese club, beating Inter 3-1 on September 18, followed by six draws and two defeats.
The Rossoneri had just one point from their last two rounds, so needed to get back on track, but Olivier Giroud was suspended, Junior Messias and Sergino Dest injured, while Theo Hernandez was at home with flu. Zlatan Ibrahimovic got his first start since January 2022 and wore the captain’s armband. The Friulani ended a six-round winless streak by beating Empoli 1-0, with Gerard Deulofeu, Enzo Ebosse and Adam Masina out.
It was a very aggressive start from the hosts and paid off when Ismael Bennacer’s weak midfield pass was intercepted by Lazar Samardzic, who surged forward and rolled across for Roberto Pereyra, the scuffed finish from the edge of the box, turning Fikayo Tomori and going through Bennacer’s legs to leave Mike Maignan completely wrong-footed.
Ibrahimovic’s long-range free kick was not far over, while Alexis Saelemaekers and Rafael Leao aimed weak efforts straight at the goalkeeper. When Brahim Diaz did force a great save out of Marco Silvestri, it wouldn’t have counted anyway for handball in the build-up.
Silvestri was at full stretch to fingertip Rafael Leao’s curler around the far post, but when Leao juggled the ball with his back to goal, it struck Jaka Bijol on the arm. The referee at first had judged it to be involuntary, but changed his mind after the VAR on-field review, as the defender’s arm was very outstretched.
Ibrahimovic stepped up and saw his penalty saved by Silvestri, but it had to be retaken due to encroachment, as Beto was clearly inside the box and he was the one who cleared the rebound. At the second attempt, the Swede smashed it into the roof of the net and made history as the oldest ever Serie A scorer, aged 41 years and 166 days.
It wasn’t over, because Udinese coach Andrea Sottil was sent off for dissent, then his team restored their lead deep into stoppages. Isaac Success got down the left and pulled back from the by-line, as Beto got a yard on Malick Thiaw to prod in from six yards.
After the restart, Thiaw’s header on a corner was straight at Silvestri, while Fode Ballo-Toure nodded over under pressure from the goalkeeper, but it was Udinese who scored on the counter.
Destiny Udogie got away down the left and pulled back across for Kingsley Ehizibue to tap in at the back post. He was not offside, as Pierre Kalulu was on the ground and keeping everyone level.
Rade Krunic hit a volley wide from the edge of the area and Divock Origi at full stretch couldn’t connect with a ball across the face of goal.
Udinese 3-1 Milan
Pereyra 10 (U), Ibrahimovic pen 45+4 (M), Beto 45+6 (U), Ehizibue 70 (U)
Player statistic
| Roberto Pereyra (Assist: Lazar Samardzic) |
 |
10' | ||
| Nehuén Pérez |  |
27' | ||
| Beto (Assist: Isaac Success) |
|
45+6' | ||
| 45+3' |  |
Zlatan Ibrahimovic |
| 61' | |
Pierre Kalulu | ||
| Walace | |
69' | ||
| Kingsley Ehizibue | |
70' | ||
| Festy Ebosele | |
90' | ||
| Rodrigo Becão | |
90+3' | ||
| 90+2' | |
Sandro Tonali |
Match statistic
