Roma 1-2 Milan Notes On Three Important Away Points
The match started openly. Roma had a couple of half chances on a counter, on one occasion Abraham out-dueled Tomori and then another using their right Roma beat Theo and Leao rather easily. Milan had even more with Ibra, Leao and Calabria all with decent chances to open the scoring early. Saelemaekers looked more active and involved than recent matches.
Milan opened the scoring. A free kick just outside the box was converted by Ibra, his low shot beat Rui Patricio in the far corner despite a Roma player lying on the pitch behind the wall.
Roma were struggling and seemed beatable. Leao controlled an Ibra header very well and headed the ball in but the goal was called back because Ibra had been offside. he match remained open and Milan had another good position free kick chance with again a Roma player lying on the pitch behind the wall, this time Rui Patricio stopped the dangerous wall.
The second half started with more of the same and it looked like Ibra had doubled the lead but VAR judged him offside. Moments later Ibra was offside again. Only moments later Tammy Abraham had a lot of room in the Milan box but his shot was blocked. The fast action continued with a counter where Ibra was brought down in the Roma box, the ref pointed to the penalty spot but decided to check the pitch side monitor. The penalty was awarded and then converted by Kessie.
Giroud came on for Ibra. Things continued to go well but Theo got a second yellow for a clumsy challenge, the first yellow earlier in the match was somewhat questionable but this second one was less so. Theo would therefore miss the derby next week, a big loss of course. Ballo-Toure came on for Saelemaekers as a forced sub. Sensing danger and perhaps one eye on the midweek Champions League match to come Pioli followed this up by a triple sub. Tonali, Romagnoli and Bakayoko came on for Bennacer, Leao and Krunic.
Roma came closest in the 82nd minute but Kjear headed the Roma header into corner with Tatarusanu not always looking the safest. Kjaer continued to be a rock. That didn’t prevemt a goal though. In added time, with Roma pressing and complaining at every action, El Shaarawy found lots of room in the middle of the box and made it 1-2.
The game ended with three points ahead of an important week.