STADIO SAN SIRO (MILAN) – AC Milan beat Frosinone 2-0 in Serie A at the San Siro, to keep their Champions League dream alive.
Gigio Donnarumma and Krzysztof Piatek sealed the three points in the last home game of the season for the Rossoneri, with the goalkeeper saving a penalty and the striker scoring the opener. A magical Suso free kick put the game to bed.
Milan reach 65 points, their best ever tally in the last six seasons, as they keep dreaming for a Champions League spot, whilst they wait to see what happens between Atalanta and Juventus.
The Rossoneri had a very slow start to the game, struggling to attack consistently in the first half.
Frosinone had conceded the most goals in the first half in Serie A this season (32), but Milan hardly came close to beating Francesco Bardi.
Fabio Borini and Tiemoue Bakayoko had opportunities, but so did the Ciociari, with skipper Paolo Sammarco firing wide from an optimal position, after sloppy defending by the home side.
The opening minutes of the second half were more eventful than the entire first 45 minutes.
Borini missed the easiest of chances, by skying it from the edge of the box after just one minute in the second half.
Then it was Donnarumma who took the spotlight, saving Camillo Ciano’s penalty and paving the way for what was to happen next.
Piatek found the back of the net for the first time in seven matches, last scoring against Juventus, tapping in from close range to give the Rossoneri a crucial lead.
A phenomenal free-kick strike by Suso sealed the three points for the Rossoneri, with Frosinone then unable to react.
There was time for another stunning save by Donnarumma, who denied Luca Valzania in the dying minutes of the game to keep the clean sheet.
Gennaro Gattuso’s men got the job done, and the chances of a top four finish stay the same, depending on Atalanta dropping points in the last two matches, and another Milan win in the final game of the season at SPAL.
SCARED TO COME FIFTH?
Gattuso said prior to this game that Milan coming fifth “would not be a failure.” But the players attitude in the first half seemed a sign of the opposite. The Rossoneri showed fear throughout the first half, lacking composure and quality, overwhelmed perhaps by having to win this game. The second half started terribly, but after Donnarumma’s penalty save, Milan made the most of the momentum to take home all three points.
THE GOOD OLD WAY OF DOING THINGS
Back in the day journalists in Italy used to say that with a great goalkeeper and a great striker most of the job is done. It might be a little simplistic, but it was definitely true about this match. Donnarumma was perfect, saving the penalty that could have sent the Rossoneri to hell. Piatek did what he does best, firing home his only real opportunity up to that point. Goalkeeper and striker, all that was needed for Milan to keep the Champions League dream alive.
Source: forzaitalianfootball.com