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AC Milan secured a dramatic 1-0 victory against Udinese on Saturday, despite playing with 10 men for over an hour. The win moves the seven-time European champions to within two points of Serie A leaders Napoli.
The match, held at the San Siro, saw Samuel Chukwueze score the decisive goal in the 13th minute, giving Milan an early lead that proved crucial. However, the situation became more challenging for the hosts when Tijjani Reijnders was sent off in the 29th minute for a reckless foul on Sandi Lovric, who was through on goal.
Milan managed to hold onto their slender lead, surviving two potential offside situations, including a tense moment deep into stoppage time. Tammy Abraham, who came on as a substitute for Alvaro Morata, missed a golden opportunity to secure the win in the 75th minute, fluffing a rebound chance and injuring his shoulder in the process.
In a heart-stopping moment for the home crowd, Udinese’s Christian Kabasele found the net in the fifth minute of stoppage time. However, after a lengthy VAR review, the goal was disallowed due to Jurgen Ekkelenkamp being offside, much to the relief of the Milan fans.
The atmosphere at the San Siro was subdued, as the hardcore “ultras” supporters chose to protest by standing in silence for most of the match. This protest was in response to what they perceive as a coordinated campaign against them by law enforcement and the Italian media. Recent arrests of leading ultras from both Milan and Inter have raised tensions, as they face allegations of various crimes, including extortion and assault.
In solidarity, the fans in the Curva Sud displayed a banner supporting their arrested allies, which read, loosely translated, “Stay strong boys.” This move came after police banned the ultras’ large banner from being displayed in their designated section, leading to a more subdued display of colors and flags from the supporters throughout the stadium.
Later in the day, Juventus has the opportunity to draw level with Napoli in the standings if they manage to secure a win against in-form Lazio, despite facing challenges from a series of injuries within their squad.
