‘Belgian’ AC Milan misses chance after chance and suffers very expensive loss of points


Wednesday, May 3, 2023 at 11:00 PM• Jonathan van Haaster • Last update: 23:30

AC Milan has suffered a particularly expensive loss of points in its own San Siro. I Rossoneri had plenty of opportunities, but only Junior Messias managed to score in stoppage time. Because David Okereke also found the net fifteen minutes before the end on behalf of Cremonese, the game ended in 1-1. Trainer Stefano Pioli took a big risk by keeping several valued forces on the bench, which turned out wrong. The draw means Milan is sixth, while number nineteen Cremonese is now six points behind the safe number seventeen Spezia.

At Milan there were no less than four Belgians at the kick-off. Aster Vranckx was allowed to show himself as a central midfielder, while Alexis Saelemaekers and Charles De Ketelaere were behind striker Divock Origi. Brahim Díaz completed the four-man vanguard. Rafael Leão, Theo Hernández, Simon Kjaer, Sandro Tonali and Olivier Giroud, among others, were given a rest and started on the bench. Cyriel Dessers was missing from his tendon due to complaints at Cremonese. Felix Afena-Gyan therefore had the opportunity to assert himself in the rush hour.

Milan started the match promisingly and got opportunities for goals through Origi and Saelemaekers. However, both Belgians saw their shots deflected by the goalkeeper and a defender of the visitors. On a pass from Pierre Kalulu, Saelemaekers slid the ball into the net, but this time the party was canceled because the latter was offside. Milan kept pressing and got shooting opportunities through Origi and De Ketelaere, which were neutralized by goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi. De Ketelaere, Origi and Saelemaekers continued to look for their goal, which never came.

After the break it was not a Belgian for a change, but a Spaniard who came close to the opening goal. Díaz was the end station of a dangerous cross, which saw his header go over. Even with substitutes Leão and Giroud now within the lines, the redeeming goal did not fall. Pioli’s team paid dearly when Okereke’s shot proved too powerful for Mike Maignan: 0-1. In the final phase, Junior Messias managed to score from a free kick. Rade Krunic was still very close to victory in minute 99, but he came across Carnesecchi. Cremonese was then on the field with ten men, because Charles Pickel was sent off three minutes earlier.

No. Team m W G v +/- Pnt
1 Naples 32 25 4 3 46 79
2 Lazio 33 19 7 7 28 64
3 Juventus 33 19 6 8 22 63
4 Internazionale 33 19 3 11 25 60
5 Atlanta 33 17 7 9 17 58
6 AC Milan 33 16 10 7 14 58
7 AS Roma 33 17 7 9 14 58
8 Florence 33 12 10 11 6 46
9 bologna 32 12 9 11 1 45
10 Monza 33 12 9 12 -3 45
11 Torino 33 12 9 12 -3 45
12 Sassuolo 33 12 7 14 -9 43
13 Udinese 32 10 12 10 2 42
14 Salernitana 33 7 14 12 -13 35
15 Empoli 32 7 11 14 -16 32
16 Lecce 33 7 10 16 -12 31
17 Spezia 33 5 12 16 -26 27
18 Hellas Verona 33 6 9 18 -24 27
19 Cremonese 33 3 12 18 -30 21
20 Sampdoria 33 3 8 22 -39 17