Match Recap: Cagliari 1-1 Milan

AC Milan looked to build upon the win over AS Roma before the international break with a trip to Cagliari, but the team from Sardinia was able to take the lead in the 4th minute and hang on for a well-fought draw. Milan drew level in the second half from Gonzalo Higuian’s first competitive goal for the club, but despite some late pressure, Milan were not able to get a second and will leave the Sardegna Arena with only one point.

Milan had a nightmare start to the match, as Cagliari scored off a rebound off of the post after the central defender was beaten far too easily over the top by the striker, and they were a tad unlucky that Joao Pedro beat everyone else to the ball, but Mateo Musacchio probably shouldn’t have gone to ground so quickly to try and stop the shot and Gigio Donnarumma will want another crack at that shot.

Milan was spared by the post, with the ball bouncing out of harms way instead of to the feet of an attacker, but the vast majority of possession and attempts on goal in the first 30 minutes were from the hosts while Milan looked disjointed and like they’d be introduced before the match, not a side that was unchanged from a good victory over AS Roma before the international break.

Giacomo Bonventura somehow missed a chance in the first half when it would have been easier to score, and the midfield seemed out of joint and it looked far too easy for Cagliari to impose its will upon the midfield.

Milan started to settle things down a little bit before the break, but couldn’t get anything on net and a shot taken by Suso from about 85 yards out and took flight and the ball is probably sitting in the Mediterranean Sea as we speak.

Milan went into half-time down 1-0 and would have been looking for answers in order to climb back into the match in the second half.

Suso took a much better shot, that could have been a cross, but we’ll call it a shot, that forced a good save from the keeper in the 48th minute that lead to a series of corner kicks.

Gonzalo Higuain got his first goal for Milan in the 55th minute, as he capitalized on a mistake at the back for Cagliari and made no mistake, slotting the ball home past the helpless keeper.

Tiémoué Bakayoko came on for Bonaventura in the 66th minute, as Gennaro Gattuso looked to freshen up the team that was on the pitch. Samu Castillejo came on in the 73rd minute for Hakan Çalhanoğlu, and Diego Laxalt came on in the 85th minute for Ricardo Rodriguez.

Milan had a few chances in the last half hour or so, as Cagliari looked to shut down the match and hang on to a one-all draw, while Milan looked for chances and free kicks in order to try and grab a late winner. However, despite Higuain and Castillejo coming close in stoppage time, a winner was not to be.