BEVERLY HILLS, November 09, (THEWILL) – Seasoned striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic recovered from another missed penalty to score in stoppage time to force a 2-2 draw and salvage a point for Milan against Hellas Verona on Sunday.
Gianluigi Donnarumma, Milan keeper, denied Croatian striker Nikola Kalinic from close range after five minutes. But, there was not much he could do to prevent Verona going in front from the resulting corner.
Left-back Federico Ceccherini’s header from the corner crashed back off the crossbar and Antonin Barak, Czech midfielder reacted quickest to prod over the line from inside the six-yard box.
The visitors were to double their lead in the 19th minute. Mattia Zaccagni’s volley from the edge of the penalty area found the back of the net courtesy of Milan defender Davide Calabria’s sliced attempted clearance.
However, Milan, beaten in the Europa League in midweek by Lille, pulled a goal back eight minutes later. Ivorian defensive midfielder Franck Kessie’s flick from an Alexis Saelemaekers’ cross was deflected past Verona keeper Marco Silvestri by defender Giangiacomo Magnani.
Moments after Silvestri’s superb 64th-minute stop from the impressive French left-back Theo Hernandez, the Rossoneri were handed gilt-edged opportunity to pull level. Verona centre back Matteo Lovato fouled Kessie inside the area and the referee awarded Milan a spot-kick. Yet, as he had fared against Inter and Sparta Prague earlier this season, Ibrahimovic failed to convert from 12 yards.
The striker appeared determined to make amends and thundered a powerful header against the post before Calabria’s late effort was ruled out as his team-mate was deemed to have controlled with his arm.
Ibrahimovic still had the last laugh. Just as it appeared it would not be his day, after the 39-year-old had seen a shot on the turn well saved, in the extra minutes of the game, the Swede climbed the highest to meet Diaz’s crossing and nod in his eighth league goal of the campaign.
Milan coach Stephano Pioli did not get the result he was after, but there was no shortage of effort from his players. They had a whopping 34 shots, although only eight were on target, and enjoyed 66 per cent possession in what was a largely dominant performance despite the scoreline.
Though their veteran striker was in the thick of the action throughout and cancelled out his missed penalty with a dramatic late leveller, Ibrahimovic would have expected to score earlier, given he had 14 shots on goal. Unluckily, only three were on target.
Milan visits Napoli – led by former boss Gennaro Gattuso – following the international break, while Verona host in-form Sassuolo.
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.
