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After multiple lackluster performances, it was crucial for AC Milan to get off on the right foot and inside of two minutes that is what happened. Suso receives the ball down the right side before whipping in a great cross to Higuain who picked the ball out of the air and places a wonderful volley across goal and into the back of the net. It is a wonderful strike from Higuain for this 3rd goal in as many games, and very little Pierluigi Gollini could do to on that one.
Higuain's goal pic.twitter.com/e8G4xm0jPN
— #FreeLocatelli (@semo33) September 23, 2018
Later it seemed like Suso had done it again putting another great ball into the box that was headed in by Jack Bonaventura but after VAR got a look the goal was disallowed for offside. Not much to complain about here as Bonaventura looked clearly offside when that pass came off. Then in the 38th min Bonaventura had another shot that was off the post again denying him and denying Milan a 2 goal cushion.
Bonaventura's goal disallowed for offside by VAR. pic.twitter.com/C5i0sGPNWG
— TheMilanBible (@TheMilanBible) September 23, 2018
Right at the half’s end, Higuain pushes the ball on a quick break forward with Kessie making a great run into the box only to put the ball just wide as he was challenged right at the shot by Atalanta goalie Gollini. In to the half, it was Milan up 1–0 but having left multiple goals on the field as poor finishing plagued the Rossoneri all half.
Out of the half, Atalanta made two substitutions bringing on Emiliano Rigoni for Mario Pašalić and Duván Zapata for Musa Barrow. A great save by had to be made by Gigio Donnarumma in the 50th minute. Gigio had a good game overall showing some flashes of why he is such a highly touted young player. It was the substitutes though who instantly made a difference with Atlanta tying it up 1–1 in the 54th minute with s Papu Gomez goal on the counterattack.
#MilanAtalanta 1-1
— Andersinho Marques (@Andersinho_ITA) September 23, 2018
⚽️ @Atalanta_BC #Atalanta pic.twitter.com/Fkf7rYDM0J
Milan picked up the pace after the equalizer and in the 61st min The Suso show continued as the poor finishing of the first half was gone when Bonaventura finished a near post run to put Milan up 2–1. Davide Calabria was replaced by Ignazio Abate in the 66th and after a great game from him Bonaventura was taken off in the 75th and replaced by Tiémoué Bakayoko, with the final change being Samu Castillejo on for Hakan Çalhanoğlu.
Bonaventura’s goal against Atalanta [via @TVACM]@giacomobona pic.twitter.com/mrxbgpVlBm
— Milan Eye (@MilanEye) September 23, 2018
In the end, it was chaos, as Atalanta earned a corner and after multiple shots ensued Ricardo Rodriguez cleared it off the end line. Still moments later that didn’t matter as Atalanta equalized in the 92nd minute. A Donnarumma save dropped to a barely onside Rigoni who put it away. It’s very disappointing again as Milan lost points in a game they should have won.
Performances like this are not gonna get Milan to the top four especially with how challenging it will be to get results against the others vying for a Champions League spot. Things are by no means crashing and burning right now, but if the results don’t turnaround against lesser opponents the pressure could start to get uncomfortable at the Milano for all parties.