AC Milan’s star striker, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, made historical past on Saturday by changing into the oldest participant ever to attain a purpose in Serie A however the pleasure was short-lived because the defending champions suffered a crushing 3-1 loss to Udinese, dealing a big setback to their hopes of securing a top-four end
Milan missed the possibility to leap to second and remained fourth with 48 factors, some extent away from fifth-placed AS Roma, who play Lazio on Sunday.
“It was a detrimental efficiency. When the crew performs like this, neither aggressive, nor intense, nor exact or targeted, it means the coach has labored badly in getting ready the match. We had been too far under our capabilities this night,” Milan supervisor Stefano Pioli instructed Sky Sport Italia.
“Look, it’s clear we won’t retain the Scudetto, but we can win this mini league of teams trying to qualify for the Champions League. We want and can do better this season.”
Udinese took the lead after 9 minutes when Lazar Samardzic intercepted a poor go from Ismael Bennacer in midfield and surged ahead into the field, the place Roberto Pereyra latched onto the ball and slotted it into the correct nook.
It took Milan 20 minutes to get a foothold within the match after the hosts had taken an aggressive strategy from the primary whistle, creating a number of possibilities to double their lead.
It was Milan who struck subsequent, nevertheless, albeit in complicated circumstances.
Milan striker Ibrahimovic first missed a penalty after a handball late within the first half, earlier than it was ordered to be retaken resulting from encroachment after play had already continued for a minute. Udinese coach Andrea Sottil was despatched off after verbally abusing the referee following the choice.
Ibrahimovic, who was beginning his first sport since January 2022, didn’t miss a second time, changing 4 minutes into first-half stoppage time, to change into the oldest goalscorer in Serie A historical past at 41 years and 166 days.
He surpassed the earlier file set by Alessandro Costacurta in 2007 by 141 days. Costacurta additionally scored his final purpose from the penalty spot for Milan in a defeat in opposition to Udinese.
The celebrations had been short-lived, nevertheless, as Beto put Udinese again forward two minutes later when he transformed an Isaac Success cross from shut vary.
Udinese made certain of the win when an unmarked Kingsley Ehizibue tapped in a go from Destiny Udogie on the again put up within the seventieth minute.
The win maintained Udinese’s hopes of enjoying in Europe subsequent season, as they moved as much as eighth place, seven factors behind Atalanta in sixth, the final qualification place.
Source: www.dailysabah.com
