AC Milan and Inter Milan Share Points in Australian Friendly
In a pre-season derby that drew a crowd of 52,310 spectators in Perth, Australia, AC Milan and Inter Milan played to a 1-1 draw. The match, characterized by a lack of high intensity, saw French striker Christopher Nkunku convert a notable penalty late in the game, leveling the score after Inter had taken the lead.
Federico Dimarco opened the scoring for Inter Milan in the 52nd minute with a close-range finish, appearing to set his team on the path to victory. However, the tide turned in the 83rd minute when Nkunku was fouled by Carlos Augusto, resulting in a spot-kick that Nkunku executed with precision.
This match marked a challenging start for new AC Milan head coach Ruben Amorim, who is still in pursuit of his first victory after having previously drawn 2-2 in a friendly against Celtic in Glasgow. Amorim, who was previously dismissed as the Manchester United coach in January, is tasked with revitalizing an AC Milan side that notably missed participation in last season’s Champions League.
Amorim may harbor concerns regarding the performance level of his squad, as they struggled to display their usual prowess and were fortunate to salvage a draw from this contest. The inclusion of veteran midfielder Luka Modric, who played the last half hour after recently extending his contract for an additional year, provided a flicker of hope for the Milanese side.
Post-match, Modric reflected on his contributions, emphasizing the importance of such fixtures in preparing the team for the upcoming season and expressing optimism for their improvement. “It was nice to get some minutes under the belt and I felt good,” he remarked, pointing out the team’s potential strengths amid their sluggish play.
This friendly was also significant for AC Milan, being their first match after the passing of Franco Baresi, a legendary figure who captained the club during its illustrious 1980s and 1990s era. A minute’s silence was observed before the match as players from both teams united in remembrance.
AC Milan started strong, with promising displays from youngsters Alphadjo Cisse and Samuel Chukwueze, although the latter’s future remains uncertain amidst transfer speculation. The match saw Yunus Musah nearly break the deadlock in the 18th minute, but his powerful effort struck the left post, encapsulating Milan’s frustrating first half.
Inter Milan exerted control as the game progressed, and with halftime approaching, the match slowed down considerably. The second period ushered in a flurry of substitutions from both coaches, with Dimarco capitalizing on a defensive lapse from AC Milan to score.
As the game neared its conclusion with Inter seemingly destined for victory, Nkunku’s late intervention ensured a critical equalizer for the Rossoneri. AC Milan’s preparations for the season will continue with an upcoming match against Chelsea in Jakarta on Saturday, while Inter remains in Perth to face Juventus on the same day.
