Dinamo Zagreb 2-1 AC Milan: Zagreb defeat 10-man Rossoneri but fall short of play-offs spots
Dinamo Zagreb defied expectations by defeating AC Milan 2-1, preventing the Italian side from achieving a seventh consecutive victory in the UEFA Champions League. However, this victory did not secure Dinamo a place in the knockout stage, as they were ultimately eliminated by Club Brugge.
Despite struggling in their domestic league, AC Milan had been formidable in the Champions League, winning six consecutive matches to secure their advancement to the knockout rounds. In a surprising turn of events, it was the Croatian team that took the lead in the 19th minute.
Matteo Gabbia made an inexplicable error by stepping on the ball, allowing Martin Baturina to seize the opportunity, dispossess the defender, and score by slipping the ball past the advancing Mike Maignan.
Fabio Cannavaro, now the manager of Dinamo Zagreb, has a long history with AC Milan, having played in Serie A for 17 years, including a stint with their rivals Inter. The irony of the first goal stemming from a defensive blunder is notable, given Cannavaro's reputation as a defensive maestro during his playing days.
Milan's situation worsened in the 38th minute when Yunus Musah received a second yellow card for a foul on Luka Stojkovic just outside the penalty area. Musah was visibly upset by the decision, even hesitating to leave the field, and upon review, it appeared that both of his bookings were for relatively minor infractions.
The seven-time European champions nearly found themselves two goals down when Baturina broke through and set up Stojković for an easy finish, but VAR intervened to disallow the goal due to a handball by the Croatian midfielder.
Just as AC Milan's visit to the Croatian capital seemed destined for disaster, they equalized three minutes later. Pulisic received the ball at the edge of the box and executed a well-placed shot that found the back of the net, leaving goalkeeper Ivan Nevistic helpless.
The Rossoneri were unable to capitalize on their momentum, allowing Zagreb to regain the advantage through a superb strike by former Juventus midfielder Marko Pjaca. After taking a single touch to control the ball, Pjaca unleashed a precise left-footed shot that found the corner of the net, igniting wild celebrations at Stadion Maksimir.
While this remarkable victory will be cherished by Dinamo supporters, the disappointment of failing to secure a play-off position will linger, particularly as astute observers recall the significant 9-2 defeat to Bayern Munich, which proved pivotal in their European journey.
For Milan, Sergio Conceicao will undoubtedly feel disheartened by their exit from the top eight. However, given that they began the campaign with consecutive losses, the Italians may find some solace in their overall progress.
SportsLigue