AC Milan's Giacomo Bonaventura (back) celebrates with teammates scoring a goal against Juventus' team during the Italian Super Cup final in Doha yesterday.
Youthful AC Milan regained the Italian Super Cup after a gap of five years defeating defending champions Juventus 4-3 in the penalty shoot-out at Al Sadd Stadium yesterday.
AC Milan keeper Donnarumma proved to be hero saving a sport kick of substitute Paulo Dybala.
AC Milan’s Lapadula saw the spot-kick parried by Buffon, but Mandzukic hit the crossbar for Juventus. When Dybala saw his spot-kick saved by a sensational Donnarumma one-handed, Mario Pasalic kept his cool to convert the winning penalty and give Milan their first trophy since 2011.
For the second time the tie breaker and Doha proved to be unlucky for Juventus in the Italian Cup in Qatar.
In 2014, Juventus had lost of Naopli in the penalty shoot-out after both the teams were locked two-all at the end of regulation time at the same venue.
After a deadlock of 120 minutes, the match went into penalty shoot-out were AC Milan came out with flying colours.
At the end of full time play the teams shared a goal apiece. Both goals came in the first half.
Juventus took the lead in the 18th minute through veteran defender Giorgio Chiellini while AC Milan equalised in the 39th minute with Bonaventura Giacomo header beating Juventus keeper Buffon Gianluigi.
Watched by a crowd of 11,356, Juventus started in an attacking mode using both the flanks to good use and on occasions slicing open the rival defense with a pass through the heart of the defense. Juve trio of Chiellini, Alex Sandro and Lichtsteiner Stephan initiated most of the moves while controlling the defence.
A youthful AC Milan on the other hand took time to settle and came into their own after falling in the arrears.
Coach Massimiliano Allegri’s team had their first shy at the goal as early in the seventh minute.
Mario Mandzukic fierce snapshot beaten AC Milan keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma but eluded the target, then Stefano Sturaro pressured the goalkeeper on a back-pass, but without any success.
Donnarumma was again called into action on Sturaro’s strike, and captain Ignazio Abate kicked the ball to safety for a corner kick.
Luck however ran out for AC Milan as Juve scored of the fourth flag kick they forced.
There is no substitute for experience and Chiellini proved it yesterday. The 32- year old was in the right place and the right time to volley home Pjanic Miralem flag kick. Chiellini volleying home of his shin-pad to give Juventus the lead, 1-0.
At the other end, Suso Fernandez went close to an equaliser, his finish going close to the upright.
Juventus suffered a body blow when defender Sandro limped off with a muscular problem to make way for Patrice Evra with a quarter left in the first half.
AC Milan continued to press hard for the equalizer and Juraj Kucka’s header from a free kick was too weak to trouble Buffon, then Carlos Bacca’s first touch was poor in the 38th minute.
The Rossoneri did equalize a minute later when Suso whipped in a cross from the right and Bonaventura ducked slightly to steer his glancing header into the far top corner beating Buffon all ends up.
Thereafter, AC Milan’s Abate dived in to keep away Sturaro effort of a Mandzukic’s cross.
Crossing over both the teams stepped up the pace but could not trouble the scorers with both keepers rising to the occasion to keep the score deadlocked at one –all.
Mid way into the second half, Juventus came to scoring a couple of times but Milan keeper Donnarumma rose to the occasion to repulse the attacks. At the other end, Juventus veteran keeper Buffon, playing his 600 match for the Turin giants, was called in to bring off an out of the blue save with seven minutes to go for the final whistle.
An off balance Gigi punched away a Carlos Ahumada’s header for a flag kick.
The Italian Super cup is traditionally a clash between the Scudetto winners and Coppa Italia holders, but as Juve got both those trophies in 2016, their opponents in Doha were beaten Coppa Finalists Milan.
The Rossoneri’s last piece of silverware was the Supercoppa in 2011, when Allegri, the present Juve coach was in charge. Milan had beaten Juventus 1-0 with a Manuel Locatelli scorcher in Serie A in October.
