February 05, (THEWILL) – In the 130th edition of the Derby della Madonnina, AC Milan closed to within a point of Inter at the top of Serie A when Olivier Giroud’s quickfire double sealed a second-half turnaround for Stefano Pioli’s side.
Inter had the ball in the net inside ten minutes after a sluggish start when Denzel Dumfries ghosted in at the back post to send a header goalbound. Ivan Perisic’s cross was precise, but the goal was disallowed due to the Croatian’s foul in the build-up.
Marcelo Brozovic then put Mike Maignan’s reflexes to the test, working space on the edge of the box before having his shot deflected by Pierre Kalulu on its way to goal.
When Nicolo Barella collected the ball in the penalty area in the 25th minute, Simone Inzaghi’s side should have gone ahead. Edin Dzeko passed the ball to Lautaro Martinez and the Argentine laid it back for Barella, but the latter blazed his effort wide under Alessio Romagnoli’s challenge.
Just minutes later, an even better opportunity presented itself, leaving Inzaghi on the touchline with his head in his hands. Martinez’s through pass was bobbled through to the marauding Dumfries, but the Dutchman blasted straight at the diving Maignan with just the goalie to beat.
Inter’s domination in the first half was finally rewarded in the 37th minute. Without a Milan player in sight, Hakan Calhanoglu’s corner soared to the back post, where Perisic calmly cushioned his sidefoot volley into the bottom corner to break the deadlock.
Milan became better after the break, and they came near, thanks to a speculative effort from Tonali after Ismael Bennacer’s perseverance in recovering the ball in midfield.
Brahim Diaz, who came on in the second half to replace the unproductive Franck Kessie, showed his guile in the 64th minute when he surged through the Inter midfield. With Milan Skriniar closing in, the Spaniard teed up Rafael Leao, but the winger could only rocket his effort high and wide.
Milan then equalised from nowhere. Alexis Sanchez was bundled over in midfield and Inter screamed for a free kick, but play proceeded as Milan stormed forward. Diaz grabbed the ball on the edge of the box before his cross-cum-shot bobbled across goal and was stabbed home by Olivier Giroud at the back post.
Milan completed their comeback in the 78th minute, as Inter seemed to be on the ropes. With his back to goal, Giroud was supplied before spinning Stefan de Vrij in the box and curling his effort into the bottom corner.
In stoppage time, Theo Hernandez was sent off for a dangerous challenge on Dumfries, but Milan held on for a critical derby victory.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
