Three defensive errors give the Sardinians the green light. The comeback of Abate’s team was late
Three carelessness, four goals conceded and a collapse that leaves regrets. Pride is not enough for Milan: Abate’s team falls at Vismara against an attentive and organized Cagliari. Pisacane’s boys take advantage of the right moments, snatch a 4-2 at home which is worth gold and rise to 17 points. The Rossoneri fail to overtake Inter (playing against Atalanta) and remain second at 21 points, awaiting the Lazio.
equilibrium
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In the first half, the wind wins at the “Puma House of Football”. Milan and Cagliari study each other and don’t sink. The rossoblù close the spaces with compactness and restart when they can, trying to take advantage of Vinciguerra’s liveliness. The Rossoneri struggled, especially in the middle, then they took measures and gradually raised the center of gravity. The most dangerous is Liberali, a star of Abate’s team (now without Camarda): the 2007 class tries a couple of times from distance and, halfway through the first half, has the clearest opportunity of the first 45′ on his left foot. He doesn’t seize the moment in the area, the guests are saved.
horror defense
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In the second half the show begins. After an almost own goal by Zeroli (deflection that ends up on the post on a Sardinian corner), the rossoblù take advantage of a horror minute from Milan and take a 0-2 lead on the hour mark. Mutandwa unlocks it, following Carboni’s throw, slips into the hole in the defense and goes over Bartoccioni from the edge. Then Parmiggiani loses a bad ball near the area and Konate takes advantage. The reaction of Abate’s team is convincing, just a couple of turns of the clock are needed and at 2-1 Liberali signs: the Rossoneri playmaker stops a cross from Cuenca with his chest in the area, raises it with his left foot and hits on the fly. Abate changes position, but Milan are exposed by the attack and suffer again. The defense is always the negative protagonist: in the 73rd minute, an overflowing Vinciguerra leaves the Rossoneri department on the spot, anticipates Bartoccioni’s exit and scores the hat trick. All finished? For nothing. Abate doesn’t agree, he throws in the very starting Scotti and Eletu and his team closes the gap with just over 10′ to go, still in the fray: corner from the right, header by Zeroli, blocked and the ball ends up on Catena. Own goal. The final minutes (including 7 minutes of injury time) tell the story of the long siege. The hosts dive forward with their heads down, but the right impulse doesn’t arrive. There is only room for 4-2 on the gong: in the 97th minute Vinciguerra has another sprint in his legs, he burns everyone on the right, crosses into the area and Konate puts the lock on the game. Pisacane smiles, it’s the second defeat in the league for Milan.