Notes On A Ref Dominated 2-1 Away Win At Sampdoria
Kjaer and Pobega were among the now non regulars taking the field in the midst of the busy schedule. Origi was expected to start as well but became unavailable lat in the week, Giroud started once again.
Leao had an early chance that was blocked and diverted for a corner. Sampdoria responded with same.
Milan opened the scoring with a very well worked team goal. First Leao won the ball and stormed the box, his ball found Giroud which the ended up going through De Ketelaere and finally Leao left the ball for Messias with the better angle and he beat Emil Audero for 1-0. Sampdoria got the goal back when Filip Duricic hit the crossbar with a curling long shot.
Charles De Ketelaere thought to have a scored a close range headed goal following another well created passage of play but a lengthy VAR and pitch side monitor check called it back. For reasons not apparent to most.
The game proceeded somewhat disjointed with Giroud having best chance before half time as his shot met a good Audero reflex save. Half time score of 0-1 could have been more.
The second half’s first action was Leao somehow getting a yellow for his leg, while attempting a bicycle kick, making contact with Alex Ferrari’s head. As it was his second yellow, he got sent off. With Milan a man down Sampdoria took advantage, with questionable marking and defending Duricic headed in to tie the game. An offside check was done and the goal awarded, just as importantly was the defending missing attackers with Tonali and Calabria the closest players to the scorer very close to the goal line. Tomori came on for Messias and soon after Theo had Milan’s next best chance as his shot from the top of the box was diverted into a corner.
Milan retook the lead courtesy of yet another VAR decision. The ball was shot into the box from a corner and VAR judged that Gonzalo Villar had made arm contact. A foul that is as bizarre as VAR itself. Giroud converted the penalty. Bennacer replaced De Ketelaere for the last 19 minutes of the game. Vranckx came on for Pobega for his Milan debut while Sampdoria made subs of their own and brought on 39 years old Fabio Quagliarella.
With time winding down and Sampdoria pressing for an equalizer Maignan saved Milan twice stopping Manolo Gabbiadini. Late into the seven minutes of added time Marco Giampaolo got his marching orders after an exchange with the referee.
The three points were bagged but this was a potentially expensive result as Leao is set to miss week 7’s match versus Napoli. Refereeing did not enhance it’s reputation either.