When Mariani awarded the penalty to Genoa in full stoppage time, the Milan defender vigorously passed his foot six times on the kick point: like Maspero with Salas in a 2001 Turin derby
Ricky Maspero last night will have returned – not without a certain satisfaction – with the memory of 25 years ago, when in a Turin derby he secretly dug with his foot above the spot from which Salas was supposed to kick a penalty, and which heaven sent into orbit. Here, Strahinja Pavlovic did the same thing against Genoa, obtaining the same result. New Maspero.
initiative
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We are at the 99th minute of a match where everything is happening at the end. Mariani has just awarded a penalty to Genoa after a challenge by Bartesaghi on Ellertsson. Rossoneri with their hands in their hair, because Leao had just found the equalizer. There are those who despair, but there are also those who take the initiative. Pavlovic, during the endless discussions, goes to the spot and literally “plows” it six times. Four with the left foot and two with the right, just to be safe. Unlike Maspero, who moved on tiptoe, the Serbian defender acts blatantly, bordering on insolence. A surreal scene both for the duration and reiteration of the gesture, and because Stanciu – who already has the ball in his hand – notices it and observes it without saying a word. Then he places the ball on the spot brutalized by Pavlovic and sends it to the first green ring. “Mission” successful, as in that derby in Maspero who then defined his initiative as a “stroke of genius”. We are also awaiting a response from Strahinja…