AC Milan had to win the their International Champions Cup clash against Bayern Munich twice after the Germans forced a penalty shootout when Franck Ribery converted a last-minute spot-kick at Soldier Field.
Giacomo Bonaventura scored Milan’s winning penalty after Gianluigi Donnarumma provided the lone save of the shootout, denying Bayern’s Rafinha from the German side’s fourth attempt.
This might have been a pre-season friendly, but the clash between two European giants had all the thrills and spills of a Champions League glamour tie.
Gianluigi Donnarumma was the AC Milan hero saving from Bayern’s Rafinha in the shootout
Giacomo Bonaventura scored the winning spot-kick after the friendly finished 3-3 in Chicago
Franck Ribery celebrates after scoring Bayern’s last-minute penalty at Soldier Field
The Rossoneri have not dined at Europe’s top table since the 2013-14 season, but put in a sterling performance to take a 3-2 lead going into the game’s final moments.
Jherson Vergara’s clumsy 89th minute take-down of Juan Bernat in the box almost undid the Italians’ work, allowing Ribery to level the game and force a spot-kicks.
Donnarumma almost saved Ribery’s effort and would prove to be the hero in the shootout.
Back in the first half M’Baye Niang, earlier denied by the offside flag, scored the opener for Milan, capitalising on a dreadful touch from Bayern’s Holger Badstuber.
M’Baye Niang scored the opener for Milan, capitalising on Holger Badstuber’s mistake
Ribery scored Bayern’s first equaliser after some neat work from Juan Bernat and David Alaba
The striker raced clean through on goal and slotted coolly into the far corner in the 23rd minute of the friendly in Chicago.
The lead didn’t last long, however, with Ribery, continuing his goalscoring glut.
Ribery, enjoying a sustained run in the starting line-up this summer, arrived in the centre to finish off some fine work from Bernat and David Alaba down the flank. He took one touch to control the ball before driving low past Donnarumma.
Alaba then gave Bayern a 2-1 lead with a long-range strike that skipped off the turf
Alaba then gave Bayern a 2-1 lead with a long-range strike just on 38 minutes, his effort skipping off the turf on its way in from 35 yards.
Milan midfielder Andrea Bertolacci, who came under scrutiny for a poor season after joining from Genoa last summer, answered his critics by drawing the Italian side level in the second-half.
As the ball fell into the box, the 25-year-old reacted quickest to a rifle a volley home from close-range after less than five minutes of the second half.
Milan midfielder Andrea Bertolacci (right) drew the Italian side level in the second half
A deflected left-footed shot by Juraj Kucka from around 40 yards gave Milan a 3-2 lead
The Italian side were not done and just past the hour mark took the lead for a second time.
A left-footed shot by Juraj Kucka from around 40 yards out took a wicked deflection that Sven Ulreich was unable to judge and had to watch as it rolled past him.
After the inevitable myriad substitutions that fill most friendlies, Bayern looked destined for the loss until Vergara’s indiscretion and the shootout drama.
Donnarumma had the last laugh and Milan look like they might have a serious prospect on their hands if they can keep hold of their precocious goalkeeper.
Jherson Vergara’s clumsy takedown of Bernat in the box saw Ribery draw Bayern level again
No comments:
Post a Comment