Notes On A 3-2 Win Vs Verona Where Castillejo Was A Difference Maker
As much mentioned Milan are in the midst of an injury crisis – and not for the first time.
This match featured the often unfairly criticized Tatarusanu in goal. Verona took advantage of careless defending down the middle and Gianluca Caprari took on the ball straight down the middle of the box and beat the Romanian keeper. The defending failed abysmally. Verona looked more organized and defended or stopped the ball well. Milan were poor in execution and looked outmanned. Verona doubled their lead not long after, a breakdown in the Verona zone – where the referee shouldn’t have given advantage on foul – led to Verona getting the ball to the right of Milan’s goal where a penalty was given. VAR checked and decided that Romagnoli had made contact with Antonin Barak. Tatarusanu guessed right but the penalty into the far corner beat him.
Things didn’t get better as the team looked incapable of completing a play and get to the visitor’s goal. To add to the problems Rebic seemed to injure his foot and walked off to be replaced with Leao.
The half time couldn’t have come soon enough. The players looked to have lost their passing game and the team looked wholly dysfunctional.
In a sign of how decimated the team is the half time changes were Castillejo for Saelemaekers and Krunic for Maldini. The former change had Castillejo getting his first minutes of the season. Milan had an early hand ball penalty shout which was dismissed by the referee. The possession percentage started to trend upward for Milan with several corners and crosses yielding little. One of the said crosses finally worked. Giroud jumped well to direct a Leao cross. Castillejo provided more energy at least and Milan continued to probe more. Leao came close to typing when his curving shot just missed the far side. Minutes later a high foot made contact with Giroud’s head but nothing was called or even given as a foul. Castilljo’s hustle and hard work was rewarded when the defender made contact with his foot in the box. The foul looked similar to Verona’s earlier penalty. VAR gave the penalty and Kessie tied the game. Right after the tying goal Ibra came on for Bennacer. Gunter’s attempt at a clearance from a Samu cross went into his own net as Milan got their first lead of the night.
The new found lead meant that Tonali came on for Giroud. The game then featured several demonstration of Ibra’s skills and half chances. Milan made a come back seemingly against all odds.