HARMLESS DEFEAT FOR THE PRIMAVERA: 3-1 NEWCASTLE

Group F of the Youth League is going straight into the archives for Abate’s Primavera following a harmless defeat at Whitley Park. AC Milan came into the match strong, with first place already uncontested, while Newcastle, defeated 4-0 in the first match, were already mathematically eliminated. In the sixth and final match of the groups, the hosts won 3-1. Mattia Liberali’s first goal in the competition was not enough for the Rossoneri and in the second half, the Englishmen took advantage of set pieces to overturn the score through Hernes, former Rossonero Heffernan and then Parkinson to round it off.

This loss by no means undermines the convictions of this AC Milan team, having already set out a convincing path towards the Round of 16, without having to go through the play-off having collected 12 points already. Coach Abate experimented and gave chances to lots of youngsters who so far haven’t managed to get many minutes in the league. Among the many new additions, the debuts of Matteo Tezzele and 2008-born Christian Comotto stand out. Focus has already turned to the next match because there is another mountain to climb in the league: the Derby awaits the young Rossoneri on Sunday 17 December at 11:00 CET away at the Nerazzurri. Forza ragazzi!

CHECK OUT THE GALLERY FROM NEWCASTLE v AC MILAN

MATCH REPORT
AC Milan started strong with a foot on the accelerator from the get-go. It took seven minutes for Liberali to break the deadlock, opening the scoring with a left-footed curling effort from the edge of the box that Janusz couldn’t hold back. The hosts responded well, as Charlton struck from a freekick in the 15th minute but Bartoccioni was able to hold onto it. The Rossoneri weathered the Newcastle storm as shots from Heffernan (23’) and Emerson (28’) didn’t bother the Rossonero rearguard. Bonomi created issues for Newcastle with a solo run, however, he was unable to find the target with his right-footed attempt. 0-1 at the break. 

A double chance for AC Milan at the beginning of the second half as the Magpies’ defensive wall repelled Camarda and Jiménez’s shots in the 47th minute. Newcastle, however, stayed in the game and made use of set pieces to level the scorelines. Hernes found the equaliser in the 51st minute with a tap-in from the scramble following a corner and four minutes later, Heffernan beat Bartoccioni with an accurate right-footed shot from the middle of the area. Offensive changes gave AC Milan the momentum again, as Camarda worried Janusz with his 64th-minute shot, however to no luck. Parkinson found Newcastle’s third in the 73rd minute, slotting home from two yards out following Neave’s assist. AC Milan didn’t give up: Martinazzi hit the crossbar from outside the box in the 74th minute, Cuenca missed the target with his 80th-minute header and Sia’s left-footed effort in the 83rd minute brought an outstanding save from Janusz. The Rossoneri could not make anything of their final assault, with the match ending 3-1. 

MATCH DETAILS

NEWCASTLE 3-1 AC MILAN 

NEWCASTLE (4-3-1-2): Janusz; Thompson (3' Shahar), Heffernan, McArthur, Charlton; Hernes, Bailey, Huntley; Sanusi; Emerson (69' Neave), Parkinson (87' Crossley). Subs: Jones; Mavididi, Palmer, Powell. Coach: Dawson.

AC MILAN (4-3-3): Bartoccioni; Bakoune, Parmiggiani, Tezzele, Jiménez (60' Perera); Sala, Stalmach (46' Comotto), Zeroli (60' Cuenca); Liberali, Camarda (70' Martinazzi), Bonomi (70' Sia). Subs: Colzani; Magni. Coach: Abate.

Referee: Petrik (CZE).
Goals: 7' Liberali (M), 6'st Hernes (N), 60' Heffernan (N), 73' Parkinson (N).
Booked: 44' Stalmach (M), 45' Charlton (N), 56' Parmiggiani (M), 77' Parkinson (N), 84' Comotto (M).

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