Sunday, April 18, 2021 at 2:28 PM• Yanick Vos • Last update: 14:34

AC Milan has booked a tight 2-1 victory over Genoa on Sunday afternoon. An own goal by Gianluca Scamacca in the second half kept the three points in the San Siro. Kevin Strootman completed the ninety minutes on the side of the visitors, but could not prevent a loss.

AC Milan and Genoa struggled to create opportunities in the first half. It was therefore no surprise that the two goals came from standard situations. The home team took the lead after twelve minutes through Ante Rebic. After a deflected free kick, the winger got the ball in front of his feet, after which he shot the ball beautifully into the far corner. The team of trainer Stefano Pioli had control of the game, without becoming threatening. Genoa gave little away and tried to become dangerous from the switch. The visitors had already handed out a few pinpricks when Mattia Destro signed for the equalizer. He passed Milan goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma with the head after a corner kick from Miha Zajc.

The second half had only been underway for a few minutes when Rebic missed an enormous opportunity to give Milan the lead. Pierre Kalulu steamed up from the right flank and passed low on Rebic, who shot high from close range. During the second half it became increasingly clear that the suspended Zlatan Ibrahimovic was missed. Milan could not make a fist in an offensive way and so Pioli made a number of changes after more than an hour of play. With the introduction of Mario Mandzukic, the trainer hoped for more threat from his team. Shortly after his raid, Milan got what it was so eagerly looking for. From a corner kick, the ball ended up on the back of Genoa striker Scamacca, who unluckily passed his own keeper: 2-1.

In the final phase, Genoa’s pressure on Donnarumma’s goal increased. The keeper made a mistake just before the end by letting go of a cross. However, he was saved by Fikayo Tomori and Simon Kjaer, who removed substitute Valon Behrami from the line. Milan also held their own in the three minutes of injury time, taking three important points in the battle for second place.