Genoa 1-2 AC Milan: Substitutes inspire another second-half comeback | OneFootball

AC Milan looked to be heading for a defeat against Genoa at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris, but came from behind to secure a 2-1 victory.

Genoa got themselves in front in the second half through substitute striker Vitinha, who had not scored a single league goal all season until he volleyed a cross in.

When it looked like being a frustrating night for Milan, they scored twice in three minutes to turn the game on its head. The first came from Rafael Leao after Santiago Gimenez’s assist, and the second was an own-goal from a dangerous Leao cross.

The result doesn’t quite rekindle hopes of a late charge towards the European spots, but it was another comeback win that should build more belief in view of the Coppa Italia final next week.

Sergio Conceicao made two changes to the team that beat Venezia last Sunday, with Ruben Loftus-Cheek replacing Rafael Leao and Luka Jovic – who recovered from back pain – taking the spot of Tammy Abraham.

From the opening exchanges it became clear that Loftus-Cheek was operating in the right-sided attacking midfielder position in more of a 3-4-2-1, with Christian Pulisic therefore switching to the left flank. Milan started the game better and generated a couple of corners with early pressure, though they came to nothing.

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The first big chance of the game went to Genoa and it was a solo effort from Norton-Cuffy that almost opened the scoring. The winger surged in from the right, getting between Theo Hernandez and Strahinja Pavlovic, before drawing an excellent low save from Mike Maignan.

What the game lacked in quality it made up for in intensity, though Milan’s forays forward in the opening 20 minutes were perhaps best surmised by Theo shooting from his own half, wide of the near post.

Maignan made another incredible save to keep Milan level in the game. The ex-Rossoneri man Junior Messias peeled around to the back post to meet a set piece cross and thought he had turned it in, but it was clawed away off the line in minute 23.

After 25 minutes, Conceicao was forced into his first change as Youssouf Fofana dropped to the floor having clearly felt a muscle problem. Leao came on in his place, with Loftus-Cheek moving into the midfield.

Leali in the Genoa goal was forced into action for the first time eight minutes before the break when Theo let fly from just outside the edge of the box. His shot didn’t really have the desired power or placement, and was calmly claimed at the second attempt.

Photo by AC Milan

The final chance of the first half was probably the biggest, with some nice give-and-go play on the edge of the box seeing Leao set of Pulisic. The American got in behind and was baring down on goal, yet Leali came off his line quick to just about stop the 1v1.

The first part of the second half brought little in the way of opportunities. The only save that either goalkeeper had to make was from Theo’s skidding 25-yard free-kick, but it was ultimately gathered easily.

Just after the hour mark, Genoa took the lead and the goal came from Vitinha, who had not scored all season to that point. A cross from the left was not picked up by any of the static defenders, allowing the striker to ghost in and sidefoot home with a nice finish.

With just over 20 minutes left on the clock, Conceicao threw on Joao Felix and Santiago Gimenez to replace Jimenez and Jovic.

Milan did get themselves level in the 76th minute, and it was Leao who got it after the substitutes all connected. A ball over the top from Felix found the run of Gimenez, who hammered a cut-back into a dangerous area, allowing the Portuguese winger to fire in via a deflection.

Less than two minutes after the equalising goal, the Rossoneri took the lead in rather fortunate circumstances. This time Leao was the ‘provider’ as he darted down the left and laid the ball back, with the ball eventually nestling in the bottom corner after the unsuspecting diversion of a Genoa defender, with Joao Felix about to strike.

The final two substitutions were then made by Conceicao, with Kyle Walker and Yunus Musah coming on for Tomori and Pulisic.

As Genoa went on the attack to try and get an instant equaliser, Leao took his man out on the break and earned a yellow card. That means he has reached the threshold of five, and will serve a one-game ban in Friday’s league fixture against Bologna.