Life became a mountainous climb for AC Milan in their Serie A encounter away to Sassuolo after the Nigerian born English defender Fikayo Tomori was gi...
Life became a mountainous climb for AC Milan in their Serie A encounter away to Sassuolo after the Nigerian born English defender Fikayo Tomori was given his marching orders just 24 minutes into the contest. The Rossoneri, hoping to give a good account of themselves on the road, found their plans torn asunder when the powers that be in the officiating crew adjudged Tomori to have committed a denial of a clear goalscoring opportunity. In the scheme of things, this dismissal tilted the lion's share of momentum firmly in favour of the hosts at the Mapei Stadium. Tomori, who qualifies to represent Nigeria at the international level, was shown a straight red card for a challenge on Sassuolo. �s forward, a decision that left Milan. �s technical bench visibly irate. The former Chelsea stalwart had been a formidable presence in central defence prior to that moment, marshalling the backline with his usual athleticism and reading of the game. But at the end of the day, one reckless lunge changed the entire complexion of the fixture. Playing with ten men for over 65 minutes, Milan struggled to impose any rhythm against a resolute Sassuolo side who pressed their numerical advantage with clinical precision. The visitors did muster a few counterattacking forays, but the defensive cracks exposed by Tomori. �s absence proved too deep. For the Nigerian faithful watching from afar, this was a bitter pill to swallow, especially given how the defender had been tipped to make a major impact this season. Back home in Lagos, at the popular viewing centres in Surulere and Maryland, the atmosphere turned from animated chatter to collective groans as Tomori trudged off the pitch. Fans clad in Milan jerseys shook their heads in disbelief, some muttering about how the referee had robbed the team of a fair contest. In Abuja, at a packed hall in Wuse Zone 4, supporters debated endlessly whether the defender had been reckless or simply unlucky, with the consensus settling on the fact that Italian referees show no mercy. At the end of the day, one Nigerian international. �s moment of madness has left Milan with a mountain to climb in the Serie A standings.
