Udinese 0 AC Milan 1: Romagnoli punishes 10-man host

Udinese was reduced to 10 men in the 95th minute and AC Milan took advantage, with Alessio Romagnoli striking the winner two minutes later.

Published : Nov 05, 2018 08:04 IST

AC Milan defender Alessio Romagnoli scored a goal in the dying minutes against Udinese.
AC Milan defender Alessio Romagnoli scored a goal in the dying minutes against Udinese.
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AC Milan defender Alessio Romagnoli scored a goal in the dying minutes against Udinese.

Alessio Romagnoli scored a last-gasp winner for the second match in succession as AC Milan snatched a dramatic late 1-0 victory at 10-man Udinese on Sunday.

The captain incredibly rifled home in the seventh minute of added time to repeat his heroics of Wednesday's 2-1 defeat of Genoa and give the Rossoneri a third straight Serie A triumph.

Gennaro Gattuso's men had seemed certain to settle for a disappointing scoreless draw against the out-of-form host, but Bram Nuytinck's 95th-minute dismissal for a cynical foul on Samu Castillejo lit the spark for a frantic finale.

Romagnoli's composed finish ensured Milan will take momentum into next Sunday's date with leader Juventus, though Gonzalo Higuain is a doubt after sustaining a back problem in the first half.

Suso almost struck an early opener for the second game running when he bent a fine attempt around the far post in the 14th minute.

Kevin Lasagna half-volleyed marginally wide at the other end and then created a good chance that Hidde ter Avest screwed across the face of goal.

Granted a reprieve by that miss, Milan's luck turned as an earlier collision with Rolando Mandragora forced Higuain to the bench before Juan Musso acrobatically denied Patrick Cutrone.

Castillejo, on as Higuain's replacement, looked lively after the interval and should have had an assist to his credit on the hour, but an unmarked Suso ballooned a gilt-edged opportunity over.

Nuytinck was shown a straight red for raking Castillejo's calf in a bid to halt a Milan counter-attack and Gattuso's men took advantage.

Romagnoli won possession off Nicholas Opoku in midfield and fired home at the end of what appeared an overworked attack, though celebrations were temporarily halted for a VAR check on an offside flag that proved incorrect.

Gattuso was removed from the touchline after leaving his technical area to confront the assistant referee, but Milan was not denied the three points.

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