Parma Slow Down Milan in Sunday Night San Siro Thriller

AC Milan, Italian Football, Parma, Serie A, Serie A 2020-2021 One comment

The Serie A must thank Parma for slowing down Milan’s run in the last match of Round 11. In view of Sunday night’s 2-2 drama at the San Siro, the Rossoneri lost two points of their lead over Inter, Napoli, Juventus, Sassuolo and Roma – who all made a full score this weekend.

It could have gone even worse for Stefano Pioli’s side, who shockingly found themselves trailing Parma by two goals before somehow managing to come back during stoppage time thanks to left-back (!) Theo Hernandez’s brace and salvage at least one point.

Lady Luck surely didn’t help the Rossoneri, who saw their efforts crashing into the oppositions’ post four times. But, at the end of the day, it was Parma who could recriminate more as taking the three points on offer would have been terribly helpful in their relegation battle.

Stefano Pioli’s plans had to change after just five minutes as Matteo Gabbia suffered an injury and had to leave the pitch. With Simon Kjaer already unavailable, it was up to 20-year-old Pierre Kalulu to fill the gap in the middle of defense as he made his Serie A debut.

Soon enough, Gervinho took advantage of the young Frenchman’s inexperience and took him on a roller coaster ride before dribbling past him and serving Hernani an easy chance to whip the ball past Gianluigi Donnarumma and put Parma ahead.

The lead gave more courage to the visitors, who risked making it two a few minutes later, but Karamoh’s header at the end of an exchange with Gervinho missed the goal target by just a few inches.

Milan found the back of the net on 23 minutes, but a VAR call canceled Samu Castillejo’s equalizer on grounds of offside, frustrating the Rossoneri‘s team effort orchestrated by Theo Hernandez and Ante Rebic and finalized by the Spanish winger.

Pioli’s side piled on the pressure but struggled to find any opening as the Crociati defended themselves with order. After Yordan Osorio blocked a Franck Kessié incursion from the right flank, it was up to Bruno Alves to deny Ante Rebic’s challenge before he could serve any of his teammates for a shot.

And when their defenders couldn’t do more, Parma received some unexpected help from Luigi Sepe’s posts as the Rossoneri hit them twice in the same action, first from a beautiful Brahim Diaz curling effort and then from Hakan Calhanoglu’s subsequent attempt.

Right before the half-time whistle, the Turk troubled Sepe again from the free-kick spot, but the goalkeeper’s left post came to the rescue again and denied his effort. After 45 minutes, the visitors were still one goal ahead.

After the restart, Pioli switched his offensive options as he sent in Jens Petter Hauge and the returning Rafael Leao in place of Brahim Diaz and Samu Castillejo. Nothing seemed to change, however, including Calhanoglu’s shooting outcome: On 50 minutes, the Turk hit Sepe’s crossbar for the third time.

The Gialloblu couldn’t even believe what was happening and were fast to build on their good luck by doubling their lead six minutes later: From the right side, Hernani went all the way towards the end line before unleashing a fine cross that found Jasmin Kurtic’s winning header – with Milan’s defensive line caught again totally unprepared.

Milan’s reaction was fast and quickly bore fruit this time, with Theo Hernandez heading the ball home from a corner kick to reduce the Rossoneri‘s gap.

Fabio Liverani sent in Wylan Cyprien and Roberto Inglese, and eventually added Simon Sohm in the 73rd minute, replacing goal-scorer Kurtic. For Milan, Sandro Tonali replaced Ismael Bennacer, who also left the pitch limping due to an injury.

Hakan Calhanoglu’s next effort didn’t hit any post for a change but failed to give Luigi Sepe too much trouble. There were not any additional concerns for Parma until late time, but just when the Crociati seemed close to wrap the upset of the week, the Rossoneri drew level to set the score at 2-2.

Sepe pulled off a miracle by parrying back Ante Rebic’s whipping effort, but had no answer when Theo Hernandez fired the ball between a forests of legs and into the far bottom corner immediately after.

Milan kept their non-losing streak open, managing to avoid the loss into stoppage time for the second time this season. It was an outcome that surely helped keeping their morale high, but Inter are now trailing them only by three points and that promises to make the continuation of this Serie A edition an overly interesting affair.

 

MATCH REPORT

December 13, 2020 – Serie A 2020-21 Round 11
MILAN-PARMA 2-2

SCORERS: 13′ Hernani (P), 56′ Kurtic (P), 58′ Hernandez (M), 91′ Hernandez (M)

MILAN (4-2-3-1): G. Donnarumma; Calabria, Gabbia (5′ Kalulu), Romagnoli, Hernandez; Kessié, Bennacer (75′ Tonali); Castillejo (46′ Rafael Leao), Calhanoglu, Brahim Diaz (46′ Hauge); Rebic (Tatarusanu, A. Donnarumma, Dalot, Conti, Maldini, Colombo, Krunic, Duarte) Coach: Pioli
PARMA (4-3-3): Sepe; Iacoponi, Osorio, Alves, Gagliolo; Hernani (87′ Busi), Brugman, Kurtic (74′ Sohm); Karamoh (67′ Cyprien), Cornelius (67′ Inglese), Gervinho (Colombi, Pezzella, Balogh, Scozzarella, Valenti, Brunetta, Camara, Nicolussi Caviglia) Coach: Liverani

REFEREE: Mr. Fourneau from Rome
NOTES: Yellow Cards: Hernandez, Calabria, Kalulu (M), Osorio, Iacoponi, Inglese (P); Extra Time: 1st Half 3′, 2nd Half 4′

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