Coppa Italia, Milan-Genoa 3-1 after extra time: Rossoneri in the quarter-finals

God keep me from friends. Andriy Shevchenko must have thought this once again, after seeing how it had already ended in the championship at Marassi. Against “his” Milan two games, six slaps, zero points, goodbye to the Italian Cup. And the bench that may not jump this time, but obviously remains with the executioner ready to take action. Genoa deludes itself and then Milan ends up in the quarterfinals, who takes them home with a 3-1 gained in extra time – not the best when there is an emergency of staff – relying on the higher technical rate, the explosive exchange rate and waking up in anger from the opinionated torpor of the first half.

Let’s say that the malice exhibited in the league is another story. If Sheva will be granted another chance to stay in the saddle (at the moment we are stuck with a victory in 11 outings) it is thanks to the first hour of the race, which Genoa has interpreted in a convincing way both in tactical terms and in attitude. . It could be a principle of rebirth, but immediate continuity will be needed as early as Monday in Florence. Milan meanwhile continue their immaculate journey of 2022. Ostigard’s goal was answered by Giroud, Leao and Saelemaekers, the last two in extra time.

The choices

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Pioli, partly due to medical constraints, partly due to the absent in the African Cup of Nations and partly due to normal rotations, changed the team for six elevenths compared to Venice. Total repaint in attack: inside Messias, Maldini (debut in the Italian Cup against Genoa as father Paolo 37 years ago: all very romantic) and Rebic, with Giroud in place of the suspended Ibra. Then, Krunic for Bakayoko and the happy return of Tomori in the center paired with Gabbia, with Kalulu moved to the right in place of Florenzi. In door Maignan. In the last few days, Sheva has lost Cambiaso and compared to the catastrophic defeat against Spezia she also had to give up Fares (market reasons), Rovella and Criscito (after-effects of muscular and Covid problems), in addition to two other players who tested positive the other yesterday. System change: from 3-5-2 to 4-3-3 with attack entrusted to Ekuban, Caicedo and the rookie Yeboah. Full speed ahead, in short. A tactical change that paid off because, quite simply, Genoa occupied the spaces much better than usual. The three forwards have moved a lot, offering depth and solutions to the ball carriers in turn, Portanova and Melegoni have alternated with intelligence in the insertions and the defense has always remained very compact. However, limiting everything to the tactical aspect would be wrong. Attitude also changed, with a team with a clearly much lighter head than the weight of the championship. Which has dissolved the ideas of the more technical players.

Tomori ko

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Approach, spirit. That is what Milan lacked for a part of the match and the pulling of the ears is a must because a team that aspires to make the definitive leap in quality cannot afford superficiality in an official engagement. The last games of the championship, triumphal across the board, have evidently produced an excess of certainties and also a touch of unwelcome presumption. Perhaps facilitated by Maldini’s great personal play and Krunic’s crossbar in the first four minutes. In short, everything must have already seemed comfortably downhill, but reality says that Milan in the first half ended there. After 360 seconds. Little support from Krunic to Tonali, but above all a disaster ahead: Giroud not served, Messias not very inspired, Maldini not very present, Rebic not very clean in the plays, even if the offensive battery was the most lively. Genoa, loose in his legs and head, and well disposed, began to understand that he could do something interesting around the quarter of an hour. First Vanheusden called Maignan to a low save that was anything but trivial, then (17 ‘) the Grifone passed: Portanova’s corner and Ostigard’s winning head, completely forgotten by Hernandez. Milan without malice but also unlucky: in the 23rd minute Tomori’s game ended, out for a knee resentment (inside Florenzi, with Kalulu in the middle). Defense without peace, infirmary perpetually full. And Genoa still dangerous at the end with Portanova, out of a whisker.

Rafa breaks the race

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The rossoblù 90 went so far from doubling even at the start of the second half, then it was Semper who saved his goal in front of Gabbia. In the fifteen minutes triple change for Pioli: Leao for Rebic, Diaz for Maldini and Bakayoko for Krunic. Sheva changed Caicedo with the former Destro. The moves of the Rossoneri coach have increased the Devil’s offensive weight especially on the left, where the super tandem Theo-Leao has come back to life. A couple of percussions by the Portuguese lowered Genoa a lot and in the 24th minute Milan won the match again: magnificent cross from Hernandez (practically a no look) and equally magnificent Giroud’s splash of water, which overlooked Vasquez. The Frenchman tried again a few minutes later and the game was heavily focused on Rossoneri hues. Milan installed in the rossoblù half field, Genoa with his head out of the water only in a throw-in, sporadically, but the Rossoneri were still unable to repeat the winning flicker. Supplementary, therefore. And again Milan. First Leao (super Semper), then Tonali (out by millimeters), then Hernandez (high from an excellent position). And finally the winning goals, one for extra time. To sign the advantage was the most deserving, that is Leao, but assisted by good luck: the left that slams slow and mocking on Semper’s post and then slips into the net was a wrong cross. And he shows he knows it well. Then the seal of Saelemaekers, primed by Hernandez. In the final, another debut of a Rossoneri Primavera among the greats: this time it was Roback, a Swiss arrived from Malmoe. Ibra will be very satisfied.