Nigeria’s Samuel Chukwueze’s 13th-minute strike secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory for AC Milan over Udinese on Saturday, despite the team playing with 10 men for over an hour.
This vital win brought Milan within two points of Serie A leaders Napoli, keeping the title race tight.
Paulo Fonseca’s side now sit third on the table, tied on 14 points with second-placed Inter Milan, after surviving two disallowed goals, including a dramatic offside call deep into stoppage time.
However, Milan’s resolve was tested when midfielder Tijjani Reijnders was sent off in the 29th minute for a clumsy foul on Sandi Lovric, who was on the brink of a clear run to goal before Reijnders clipped his heels.
The red card left Milan to defend their slender lead with 10 men for the remainder of the game.
Tammy Abraham, who replaced Alvaro Morata with 15 minutes left, missed a golden opportunity to seal the match when he fluffed a rebound and simultaneously injured his shoulder in an awkward fall.
This missed chance kept the pressure on Milan, who looked to have been stunned when Christian Kabasele bundled home an equalizer for Udinese in the fifth minute of stoppage time.
However, the San Siro erupted in relief as a lengthy VAR check revealed that Jurgen Ekkelenkamp’s toes were marginally offside, ruling out the goal and securing Milan’s hard-earned three points.
Adding to the tension in the San Siro was a protest from Milan’s hardcore “ultras” supporters.
The usually electric atmosphere was subdued as the fans stood in near silence for most of the match, expressing their discontent with what they describe as an ongoing campaign by law enforcement and Italian media against them.
Last month, key ultras figures from both Milan and local rivals Inter were arrested on charges ranging from criminal conspiracy to extortion and assault.
In response, the police banned the display of the ultras’ iconic “Curva Sud Milano” banners, leading to a rare sight of an unadorned section of the stadium.
Fans, in solidarity, left their flags and banners at home, with some displaying a sign of support for their detained allies that read, “Stay strong boys.”
Despite the victory, Milan’s performance was overshadowed by this off-field drama, casting a long shadow over what should have been a celebratory night for the seven-time European champions.
Meanwhile, Juventus had the chance to move level on points with Napoli later in the day if they could overcome a resurgent Lazio side, although injuries had ravaged Thiago Motta’s squad, complicating their challenge.
