Rio Ave-Milan, after 24 penalties, AC Milan qualified for the group stage of the Europa League.
RIO-AVE MILAN 10-11 (2-2)
Rio Ave (4-2-3-1): Kieszek; Ivo Pinto, Borevkovic, Santos, Nelson Monte; Tarantini (30′ st Jambor); Filipe Augusto; Piazon, Diego Lopes (21′ st Geraldes), Carlos Mané (4′ sts Gabrielzinho), Moreira (41′ st Gelson Dala) (22 Vieira, 24 Pedro Amaral, 77 Andrè Pereira). All.: Silva.
Milan (4-2-3-1): Donnarumma; Calabria, Kjaer, Gabbia, Theo Hernandez; Kessie (1′ sts Tonali), Bennacer: Castillejo (1′ st Diaz), Calhanoglu, Saelemaekers (4′ pts Colombo); Maldini (22′ st Leao) (1 Tatarusanu, 93 Laxalt, 33 Krunic). All.: Pegs.
Referee: Manzano (Spain).
Goal: in st 6′ Saelemaekers, 27′ Geraldes; in pts 1′ Gelson Dala, in sts 16′ Calhanoglu (rig.).
All at the last breath, after three hours of sporting battle, in the playoff match against Rio Ave played in Portugal, the Rossoneri, after an endless series of penalties (24!), imposed themselves 10 -11 in the total score, after the match had closed 1-1 in 90' and 2-2 in overtime. Santos' error (RIO) and Donnarumma's parry (MIL) were decisive. The match ended 2-2 at the end of extra time: goals from Saelemaekers (MIL) and Geraldes (RIO) in regular time; Gelson Dala (RIO) and Calhanoglu (MIL) (in extra time). It took a lot of stubbornness and more than luck to help Milan to get the better of Rio Ave who will eat their hands for having failed the greedy opportunity to eliminate the most famous opponents. AC Milan had managed to catch a draw now unhoped for at 121' thanks to Borevkovic's naivety, who took out a slope with one arm that was coming into the area at Calhanoglu. A penalty that the Turk himself coldly transformed by giving the Rossoneri the appendix from the diskette. It was hard for the Portuguese club to digest the defeat: the home team saw first the victory fade away for Hakan Calhanoglu's goal on penalty and then during the penalty lottery it wasted three match points.
Below is a chronology of the penalty kicks that led Milan to success:
RIO AVE-MILAN 0-1 (Bennacer's goal);
RIO AVE-MILAN 1-1 (Goal of Geraldes);
RIO AVE-MILAN 1-2 (Goal of Kjaer);
RIO AVE-MILAN 2-2 (Santos Goal);
RIO AVE-MILAN 2-3 (Goal of Theo Hernandez);
RIO AVE-MILAN 3-3 (Goal of Jambor);
RIO AVE-MILAN 3-4 (Goal of Brahim Diaz);
RIO AVE-MILAN 4-4 (Goal by Piazon);
RIO AVE-MILAN 4-5 (Goal of Calhanoglu);
RIO AVE-MILAN 5-5 (Goal of Felipe Augusto);
RIO AVE-MILAN 5-6 (Goal of Calabria);
RIO AVE-MILAN 6-6 (Goal of Gelson Dala);
RIO AVE-MILAN 6-7 (Goal of Tonali);
RIO AVE-MILAN 7-7 (Goal of Gabrielzinho);
RIO AVE-MILAN 7-7 (High Roll of Columbus);
RIO AVE-MILAN 7-7 (Palo-Palo di Monte);
RIO AVE-MILAN 7-8 (Goal of Leao);
RIO AVE-MILAN 8-8 (Goal of Pinto);
RIO AVE-MILAN 8-8 (High Shot of Donnarumma);
RIO AVE-MILAN 8-8 (High Roll of Kieszek);
RIO AVE-MILAN 8-8 (Bennacer parry shot);
RIO AVE-MILAN 8-8 (Geraldes Stake);
RIO AVE-MILAN 8-9 (Goal of Kjaer);
RIO AVE-MILAN 8-9 (Santos parry shot).
By Kork75!
