Total disappointment of Milan. The ‘rossonero’ team was already savoring first place in Serie A when they were stunned by the reaction of Thiago Motta’s Spezia, who stormed the San Siro and left Stefano Pioli’s men without even a tie in a crazy game ending in the one that did not lack anything: suspense, emotion, controversy and also surprise.
Milan had it in their power to steal Inter’s first place. He needed the victory and he brushed it thanks to the genius of Leao, but it is the ‘neroazzurri’ who remain in the lead after everything went to hell with a disastrous second half from the milanistas.
Devastating start for Milan
As in the previous duel against Venezia, Milan jumped onto the field like a whirlwind to mark distances from the start. The ‘rossonero’ domain in the first half was total, handcuffing Spezia and creating danger through a totally unleashed Raphael Leao.
The Portuguese warned of his intentions as soon as he started with a long shot that went wide, although his prize did not come until the last minute of a brilliant first act on his part.
In between, Leao left several dizzying actions with his power and his dribbles that were gold for Milan. Ibrahimovic and Saelemakers joined the party, although like the Portuguese they lacked some aim.
Theo makes a penalty
At the stroke of halftime, when Milan seemed to have already lowered the piston, Leao went ahead for a ball to the Spezia goalkeeper, who hit with his leg trying to clear. The VAR confirmed the penalty, but Theo Hernández wasted the gift by shooting directly wide.
Luckily for Milan, they had Leao ‘onfire’. The Portuguese messed things up again by weighing in a long delivery and managed to put Pioli’s men ahead with a precious little hat over goalkeeper Provedel (46′).
Milan rubbed his hands seeing how everything was going. The victory did not seem to be in danger and the provisional leadership was already savored. Big mistake, because the matches last 90 minutes and Spezia had an ace up their sleeve.
Spezia reacts
Motta sent the lines up and put pressure on a Milan that was not expecting it. That’s where Pioli’s began to drown, increasingly imprecise and lacking in fluency.
The finishing touch came when Colombian Agudelo entered the match, who revolutionized Spezia even more before making it 1-1, finishing off a great cross from Verde (59′).
Milan tried to react, but it was already cold. Leao no longer broke lines and the clarity was lost. It remained to shoot from the heart and there the ‘rossonero’ team did find competitiveness.
End of madness in San Siro
The end of the match was epic, with Provedel saving Spezia and the referee failing to give Milan the lead when Messias was already celebrating 2-1.
The referee rushed to whistle a previous foul and the Brazilian’s goal did not go up to the scoreboard despite the insistent protests of the Milan players.
The worst was yet to come. At the last moment, with extra time in a hurry, Spezia left San Siro speechless when Gyasi finished off a devastating counterattack by Motta’s men.
Thus, neither victory, nor points nor leadership for a Milan that wasted a great opportunity to put pressure on an Inter that follows first with a two-point advantage, although with a game less than the Milan players.