Match Recap: Dramatic stoppage time winner gives Milan a 1-0 win over Udinese

AC Milan came into the match looking to get back into the top four after the rest of the league had already played this weekend while Udinese were looking to simply get a point in order to get some separation between them and the bottom of the table.

However, a stoppage time goal by Milan after a gratuitous amount of time-wasting and dirty fouling by Udinese ensured that Milan took home three points and ended the weekend in the top four.

Most of the first half was pretty exciting for neutrals, as both teams traded long-range shots that challenged both keepers. Gigio Donnarumma did well to save a couple dipping, swerving shots that came from outside the box. While for the other side, Gonzalo Higuain did well to get a shot or two off for Milan.

Suso came very close with a free kick in the 29th minute, but his shot was batted away for a corner kick that ultimately came to nothing, just like most of the attacking efforts in the first half.

Milan suffered a blow in the 35th minute as Higuain had to be substituted as he had went down injured a few minutes before. The Argentina international was holding his lower back while motioning that he needed to come off, which was a worrying sign for all Milan fans.

Cutrone had the best chance for Milan in the first half, after he was played all alone in on goal by Diego Laxalt, but his shot was denied by Juan Musso, the Udinese keeper.

Both sides would go into half-time scoreless, with Milan looking a tad better, especially in the last 10 or 15 minutes of the half. The worrying part, of course, was the injury to Higuain, who only adds to a rather disturbingly long list of players that are out for Milan.

The second-half featured a few more frustrating chance for Milan, as both Suso and Samu Castillejo both had good opportunities that seemed to be wasted, and both teams seemed to draw the ire of the referee, with fouls being called for slight touches, while Cutrone was taken down in the box in what would have been a soft penalty, but perhaps should have been given, with the other fouls and free kicks being given out elsewhere on the pitch.

Perhaps the best chance that went wasted was from Suso. The ball was laid on a plate in front of him in the box, but Suso’s rushed shot went soaring into the stands. Milan continued to press with very little success while the Udinese players started to give a tutorial in time-wasting.

Udinese’s Bram Nuytinck saw red in stoppage time after he swung his foot at the Achilles tendon of a streaking Castillejo, but the free kick was wasted.

However, Milan would still somehow pull off an incredible, unlikely win in stoppage time after Alessio Romagnoli won the ball in midfield, and the ball was played out Cutrone by Suso. Cutrone went into the box and it seemed that neither he nor Suso was able or willing to get off a final shot, only for the ball to go to the Milan captain who hammered a shot into the back of the net to send the traveling Milan fans and team into absolute pandemonium.

After it was determined that the linesman had, incorrectly, ruled Cutrone offsides on the initial pass that started the attack, VAR came to the rescue and the goal was given.

Milan keeps a clean sheet and wins in dramatic fashion. It wasn’t always pretty, but another stoppage time winner sure feels pretty great.

Forza Milan!