Napoli 1-1 AC Milan (1-2 agg)- Champions League highlights
Napoli 1-1 AC Milan (1-2 agg)- Champions League highlights and result as Olivier Giroud put Rossoneri into first semifinal since 2007.
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The French striker failed to score from a first-half penalty but converted successfully before the break from Rafael Leao’s stunning run and assist.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia saw a spot kick saved by impressive Mike Maignan late in the game, but then assisted for Victor Osimhen to score a injury-time goal to equalizer, but it was too late for Napoli as Rossoneri were through 2-1 on aggregate.
Napoli 1-1 AC Milan (1-2 agg) – Highlights
Arrived in Southern Italy with a one-goal slim advantage, Milan was actually under high pressure from the home side at the exhilarating Stadio Diego Maradona after the kick-off.
First-time quarterfinalist Napoli pressed to find an early goal in bid to get back on aggregate as Kvaratskhelia and Piotr Zielinski saw routine shots saved by Maignan.
The Rossoneri’s defence remained firm with Simon Kjaer and Fiyako Tomori at the back, and Stefano Pioli’s side were given a brilliant chance to get their first goal of the night at the 23th minute. Leao went down under Mario Rui’s clumsy challenge to earn a penalty.
Giroud stepped up but it was blocked by Meret who guessed right as the Milan’s striker failed with his first penalty since 2012.
But minutes before the break, the 36-year-old redeemed himself by scoring from a tap-in right before half-time to put Milan in front.
Rafael Leao went on a superb solo run from the edge of his own box to the penalty area, before squaring to Giroud to tap home a simple finish.
The Portuguese forward was clocked at 35.1km/h on the assist for Giroud’s goal, simply one of the best assist in this year’s tournament.
Olivier Giroud is now just the 2nd Frenchman after Thierry Henry to score 5+ goals in a single UCL season for three different clubs (Arsenal, Chelsea and now Milan).
Osimhen nearly had an immediate response when he fired in from close range in first-half stoppage time, but the goal was ruled out for a handball by Nigerian’s hand-ball in the build up.
Second-half was eventful
Still a dominant side when the game resumed, but the Naples side struggled to get it back even.
Serie A 2022/23 leader failed to land a blow on a superb Milan defence, Lozano, Olivera and Amir Rrahmani all had good opportunities to pull one back but all missed them all.
Drama almost came at the 82th minute when Elfir Elmas’ cross hit Fikayo Tomori on the hand and the referee pointed to the spot.
However, Maignan brilliantly denied Kvaratskhelia with ten minutes to go, before Osimhen headed in a late consolation.
The Champions League dream ended with Napoli, while Milan reached the semi-finals of the Champions League for the first time since 2006/07; the Rossoneri join Juventus as the Italian team with the most participations in this phase of the competition (seven).
Milan will now turn their attentions to a potential semi-final against city rivals Inter, who are 2-0 up ahead of their home Champions League quarter-final second leg with Benfica on Wednesday night.
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