At the Coloverre Sports Centre stadium in Nyon, the Rossoneri recreated the classic penalty shoot-out in the face of a fierce semi-final clash between Porto and AC Milan in the semi-final of the Under-19 Youth League. It's a battle about who makes it to the final, and both teams gave it their all to present a thrilling matchup.
AC Milan showed their strength from the start of the game, and it was only in the 12th minute that Scotty scored a goal from a leak in Porto's defence to give the Rossoneri the lead. However, Porto did not show weakness and towards the end of the first half, the score was levelled at 1-1 with a penalty created by Maireles in the 41st minute and converted by himself, bringing the two sides back to the same page.
In the second half, Porto showed more energy and attacking intensity, with Blas netting a goal in the 65th minute to make it 2-1. Milan resisted stubbornly in the face of difficulties, but Porto missed opportunities on several occasions, as if the scales had tipped in their favour. However, a miracle struck at a crucial moment when Simohac equalised for Milan in stunning fashion to send the game to a 2-2 draw.
Then the drama ensued, as AC Milan scored three penalty shoot-outs in a row in the UEFA Youth League, beating Porto, with regular hero Kevin Zeroli slotting home the winning spot-kick. AC Milan's historic reach to the Youth League final is not only a tribute to the club's illustrious European record, but also a remedy for the first team to reach the final of the competition.
The final will take place at 6pm sharpest on Monday night, with AC Milan taking on Olympiacos, who also qualified on penalties at the same stadium at the Kolovre Sports Complex. Three days later, we will witness the Rossoneri under Abate write a new chapter in this historic final.
At the same time, the topic of AC Milan's first-team manager is still hot. With a Europa League quarter-final defeat to Roma, the chances of current boss Stefano Pioli staying in office seem slim.
According to Calciomercato.com reports, in the midst of this change of coach, the name of former Roma coach Paulo Fonseca appeared in the field of vision of AC Milan's senior management. Fonseca, who currently plays for Lille, France, has gained valuable experience in Serie A from 2019 to 2021 as head coach of Roma, and has impressed with his unique tactical intelligence and passionate leadership style. He accepted Lille's offer after a short one-year break and led the French powerhouse to a steady march in the domestic league and a successful semi-final in the Europa League, proving that his ability to deploy on the international stage should not be underestimated.
Meanwhile, former AC Milan star Ignazio Abate has also entered the list of managerial discussions. The right-back, who was once known for his speed and assists on the wing, became a coach after retiring from the game and has shown an excellent ability to develop new players and lead the team during his tenure as head coach of Milan's youth team, Primavera. In particular, Abate made history with the youth team in his first season in charge, reaching the UEFA Youth League final for the first time, an achievement that certainly strengthened the club's confidence in his future potential.
Therefore, whether it is Paulo Fonseca, who has practical experience and a multi-national coaching background, or Ignazio Abate, who has a deep affection for AC Milan and has a strong record of achievements, they are all strong contenders for the next head coach of Milan by virtue of their different strengths. Fans are looking forward to the management making a wise choice, bringing new vitality and vitality to the team and starting a new journey.