AC Milan gave their fans a frightful afternoon at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris, but at the end of the day, they walked away with the lion's share of the...
AC Milan gave their fans a frightful afternoon at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris, but at the end of the day, they walked away with the lion's share of the points, defeating Genoa 2 1 in a Serie A clash that had everything. The Rossoneri, powered by a clinical second half display, surged towards a top four finish and reminded the powers that be that they remain a formidable force in Italian football. It was Genoa who struck first, sending the home crowd into a frenzy with a well worked goal that caught the Milan defence off balance. But the Diavolo showed their resilience. Christopher Nkunku, the French forward who joined the club with high expectations, produced a moment of brilliance to draw his side level just before the hour mark. His finish was precise, a calm strike that gave the goalkeeper no chance and settled the nerves on the pitch. Then, with the game hanging in the balance, it was Zachary Athekame who wrote his name into the headlines. The young full back, still finding his feet in the senior setup, burst forward from his defensive post and swept home a delightful winner that left the Genoa defenders rooted to the ground. It was a goal that spoke volumes about the depth of character in this Milan side. In the scheme of things, this victory could prove decisive in the race for Champions League qualification. For the Super Eagles faithful watching at home, there was no Nigerian international on the scoresheet, but the performance of the Milan midfield, which controlled the tempo for long stretches, drew applause. Genoa, to their credit, gave a good account of themselves and will feel aggrieved not to have taken something from the match. But football, as they say, is about taking your chances, and Milan did just that. Across Lagos, in bustling viewing centres from Surulere to Ikeja, the atmosphere was electric. When Nkunku equalised, a collective roar went up from fans squeezed onto plastic chairs, phones clenched in sweaty palms. And when Athekame. �s winner rippled the net, patrons in one Ikeja centre rose as one, fists pumping, some even spilling their malt drinks in the excitement. For these supporters, Monday morning office talk will be about one thing only: how Milan showed the heart of champions to steal all three points on the road.
