AC Milan advanced to their first Champions League quarter-final appearance in 11 years with a 1-0 win against Tottenham Hotspur in their last-16 first leg at the San Siro on Tuesday. It was 2012, when last time AC Milan got through to the quarter finals of UEFA Champions League.
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After a fantastic double save by Tottenham’s goalie Fraser Forster, the Spaniard headed in a rebound in the seventh minute, and the seven-time winners kept the Londoners at bay. As AC Milan won the dull Round of 16 second leg 1-0 on aggregate, Antonio Conte was unable to motivate Tottenham to a Champions League comeback on his return to the team after five weeks away.
After gallbladder surgery, Spurs manager Antonio Conte had a trying night as he witnessed his sloppy team struggle to win the first leg thanks to a goal from AC Milan’s Brahim Diaz. Cristian Romero’s late dismissal for receiving a second yellow card added another blow for Spurs.
Spurs’ disappointing withdrawal from Europe makes it practically certain that they won’t win a trophy this year. Spurs had previously lost to lower-level Sheffield United in the FA Cup and Nottingham Forest in the third round of the Carabao Cup. They presently trail Premier League leaders Arsenal by 18 points as well.
Match Report : As it happened
Tottenham performs horrific in a dull tie with AC Milan; Cristian Romero was sent off late in the game as the visitors progressed to the quarterfinals of the Champions League; Tottenham Hotspur’s 15-year trophy drought continues.
Spurs struggled to overturn a one-goal gap from the first leg when Antonio Conte handed back to the sidelines. The situation was made worse by Romero’s late red card. The outstanding save by Fraser Forster on Brahim Diaz and the stoppage time goal attempt by substitute Divock Origi show that AC Milan still had the better opportunities despite Tottenham’s slight improvement in the second half.
Junior Messias’ reckless shot from inside the box after a skillfully executed series of free kicks after Cristian Romero and Lenglet both received yellow card bookings inside the beginning twenty-one minutes was the closest Milan would just get.
The AC Milan squad emerged to be a good opportunity. However, the first half was largely uneventful as both teams took time hold the match sequence , with Spurs failing to register a single shot on goal.
There was a dissatisfaction around north London as their team left the pitch to a smattering of chants, with their side failing to create anything resembling enough to overcome their 1-0 deficit in the first leg against Milan.
Tottenham improved slightly in the second half, but they still struggled to produce anything noteworthy in front of an increasingly agitated crowd. This prompts goal-hungry Spurs to bizarrely replace a centre-back for an attacker.
Tottenham lacked creativity mainly in midfield, and their only chance came in the first half when Kane did receive the ball inside the box and his cross was pushed away towards the goal but was diverted behind from the goalkeeper Mike Maignan.
The home crowd, which has not experienced their team win a trophy in the 15 years and now only has a top-four finish to compete for this campaign because Conte’s contract is expiring in 12 games, booed loudly as the game came to a close.
What’s next for AC Milan
AC Milan will next face Salernitana on Tuesday14th March in Serie A campaign.
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