AC Milan 1-0 Tottenham: Spurs lose in San Siro but Italians rue misses in Champions League last 16 first leg
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Updated 14/02/2023 at 22:57 GMT
Tottenham have it all to do in the second leg of their Champions League tie with AC Milan after losing 1-0 in the San Siro. Brahim Diaz opened the scoring inside seven minutes as the Italians got off to a flying start, with Spurs’ best moments coming via pot shots from distance. In truth, Antonio Conte’s are fortunate to still be in the tie after Milan missed two huge chances in the second half.
Brahim Diaz of AC Milan celebrates
Image credit: Getty Images
Brahim Diaz gave AC Milan a 1-0 win against Spurs in their Champions League last 16 first leg - but the Italians were left to rue missing two huge chances in the second half.
After just seven minutes Milan had the lead. Diaz saw his fierce effort saved brilliantly by Fraser Forster but the Spaniard was on hand to head home the rebound. It was exactly the start Stefano Pioli's side wanted after Milan had previously failed to score at all in three of their last five matches across all competitions.
Spurs responded well to going behind with Antonio Conte's side enjoying good possession but they were unable to fashion anything clear-cut thanks to Milan's defending. Spurs won lots of set-pieces, particularly in the first half, but could not work them to their advantage.
Milan were happy to let Spurs have the ball in safe areas with the Serie A side looking to play on the counter-attack, primarily through Theo Hernandez and Rafael Leao on the left-hand side.
In the second half, Spurs continued to play well through midfield - with makeshift duo Oliver Skipp and Papa Matar Sarr acquitting themselves well - but the Premier League side lacked ideas and the necessary quality in the final third to really trouble the hosts.
As Conte's side pushed forward in search of an equaliser, more space opened up in behind for Milan to exploit on the counter-attack.
Milan wasted two glorious chances to score within two minutes. First, Charles De Ketelaere fired a header wide of the target and then, just a minute later, Leao found Malick Thiaw in the box but he could only divert his header wide of the post. Two huge chances that you feel someone like Olivier Giroud would have made count.
Still, Milan were able to withstand late pressure to beat Spurs for the first time in history and head into the second leg with a precious lead.
TALKING POINT - THE TIE REMAINS ALIVE
Football is made up of very fine margins and in Spurs' case, two gilt-edged chances that went begging for Milan keep this last 16 clash very much in the balance.
If Spurs do go on to progress to the quarter-final, Stefano Pioli and his side will look back on those chances as two truly defining moments. Antonio Conte's side will feel that despite a below-par performance tonight in Milan, they are capable of turning it around when Milan travel to north London.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH - RAFAEL LEAO (AC MILAN)
The Portuguese attacker put in a fine attacking performance and was a constant nuisance for Spurs. He completed a whopping nine dribbles during the game, always looking to drive forward at defenders and make things happen. He battled well too, winning 13 duels, making one interception and one clearance.
It was Leao who was the out ball for Milan, a target to hit when they looked to spring a counter-attack following a Spurs attack and his blistering pace and superb technique meant he was able to drag his side up the pitch time after time.
PLAYER RATINGS
AC Milan: Tatarusanu 7, Kalulu 8, Kjaer 8, Thiaw 7, Theo 8, Tonalo 7, Krunic 6, Saelemaekers 6, Diaz 8, Leao 9, Giroud 8. Subs: Messias 6, Pobega 6, De Ketelaere 5, Rebic N/A
Tottenham Hotspur: Forster 6, Lenglet 6, Dier 7, Romero 6, Skipp 7, Sarr 7, Perisic 7, Emerson 6, Son 7, Kulusevski 6, Kane 6. Subs: Davies 6, Richarlison 6, Danjuma 6
MATCH HIGHIGHTS
7' GOAL! AC Milan 1-0 Tottenham (Diaz): Milan take the lead after just seven minutes through Brahim Diaz! Forster makes a brilliant save to deny Diaz but Diaz is on hand for the rebound and heads it over the line.
78' BIG CHANCE FOR MILAN! - So close to 2-0 for Milan. Olivier Giroud finds De Ketelaere who fires his header wide. That was a huge chance for Milan.
79' ANOTHER HUGE MISS! - Leao fires in a superb cross and Thiaw fires his header wide from point-blank range. Milan should be 2-0 up but it remains 1-0.
KEY STAT
Brahim Díaz (23 years and 195 days) is the youngest player to score for AC Milan in a UCL KO game since Kaka (March 2004 - 21 years, 336 days).
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