Udinese 2-3 AC Milan: Alleged racist abuse of Mike Maignan mars dramatic comeback win for Rossoneri
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Updated 20/01/2024 at 22:31 GMT
AC Milan pulled off a fine comeback win over Udinese on Saturday evening, but the game was marred by alleged racist abuse suffered by Rossoneri keeper Mike Maignan. Maignan walked off the pitch in the first half as the game was temporarily suspended, before re-emerging as the game got back underway. Noah Okafor scored Milan's winner in stoppage time.
Mike Maignan
Image credit: Getty Images
Noah Okafor scored a stoppage-time winner as Milan snatched a dramatic 3-2 victory over Udinese, in a game marred by alleged racist abuse of Rossoneri keeper Mike Maignan.
The first-half incident involving Maignan had seen the keeper - after speaking to the referee - walk off the pitch, as the game was suspended.
The game did restart however when Maignan re-emerged following discussions in the tunnel.
The visitors took the lead in the 31st minute when Theo Hernandez’s low cross found Ruben Loftus-Cheek, whose deflected first-time shot gave him his second goal in three games.
Udinese responded three minutes before half-time when Lazar Samardzic swept home from 20 yards, while Florian Thauvin completed the turnaround when he lashed past Maignan from a tight angle in the 62nd minute.
However, Milan denied their opponents only a third league win of the season in dramatic fashion with two of their substitutes doing the damage.
First, Luka Jovic headed home the equaliser with seven minutes remaining.
Then in the third minute of stoppage time, a deep corner broke to the unmarked Okafor, who lashed in what proved to be the winner, as Milan closed the gap on Serie A’s top two to four points.
Talking Point - Ton up for Pioli after Rossoneri late show in Udine
The late, late interventions from his substitutes gave Pioli a landmark victory at Bluenergy Stadium.
Indeed, it was his 100th in Serie A whilst in charge of Milan, becoming the fifth manager to achieve the feat after Carlo Ancelotti, Fabio Capello, Nereo Rocco and Nils Liedholm.
Pioli reached the milestone in 166 matches, just one more than Ancelotti, while his side are now unbeaten in seven – winning each of the last four.
Player of the Match - Ruben Loftus-Cheek
Loftus-Cheek produced an all-action display in the middle of the park. The former Chelsea midfielder timed his run to perfection for his third away goal of the season, just one fewer than he managed in his nine previous campaigns in the big five European leagues.
Meanwhile, he was involved in a game-high 18 duels, and no other player bettered his tally of five tackles (level with Walace).
Player Ratings
Udinese: Okoye 7; Joao Ferreira 5, Perez 6, Kristensen 5; Ebosele 6, Lovric 6, Walace 6, Samardzic 7, Kamara 6; Pereyra 4; Lucca 5. Subs: Thauvin 7, Ehizibue 5, Payero 5, Success 5, Zarraga 5.
Milan: Maignan 8; Calabria 5, Kjaer 6, Gabbia 6, Hernandez 7; Loftus-Cheek 8*, Adli 6, Reijnders 6; Pulisic 7, Giroud 7, Rafael Leao 6. Subs: Okafor 8, Florenzi 5, Jovic 7.
Match Highlights
31’ – GOAL! Udinese 0-1 Milan (Loftus-Cheek): Hernandez finds himself in an advanced position down the left flank. He cuts the ball across the box and Giroud leaves it for the onrushing Loftus-Cheek, whose first-time shot takes a slight deflection before nestling in the back of the net.
42’ – GOAL! Udinese 1-1 Milan (Samardzic): Receiving the ball 35 yards from goal, the Udinese midfielder skips inside a challenge and advances to the edge of the penalty area, where he neatly slots into the bottom-left corner past a flat-footed Maignan.
62’ – GOAL! Udinese 2-1 Milan (Thauvin): Hernandez gets into a right tangle inside his own penalty area and Thauvin is quick to pounce on the loose ball. The substitute is at a tight angle, but his fierce shot flashes past Maignan and into the back of the net.
83’ – GOAL! Udinese 2-2 Milan (Jovic): Rafael Leao finds Hernandez, who cuts the ball back into the penalty area. It falls kindly for Giroud, whose deflected shot ricochets against the crossbar and bounces on the line, but Jovic reacts quickly to head into an empty net.
90+3’ – GOAL! Udinese 2-3 Milan (Okafor): Giroud's speculative effort is tipped over by Okoye, who is helpless from the resulting corner. A deep delivery from the right is helped on towards the unmarked Okafor, and he takes a touch before smashing the ball home from close range.
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