Man Utd 1 AC Milan 1: Kjaer scores 92nd-minute equaliser in massive blow to United after super-sub Diallo’s first goal
SIMON KJAER broke hearts in Manchester after his last-gasp goal cancelled out super-sub Amad Diallo’s header to give AC Milan the advantage in their Europa League tie.
The Ivorian, 18, showed Anthony Martial how to do it with the goal that should have downed AC Milan after replacing the lacklustre, misfiring Frenchman at the break.
Just five minutes later he had his first goal for Manchester United with his first effort on goal for the club in just his third appearance since coming here.
What a goal it was too anticipating Bruno Fernandes chipped ball forward to get between defender and goalkeeper and expertly execute a flick head back over Gianluigi Donnarumma and in.
For United stalwarts, it was reminiscent of Javier Hernandez goal at Stoke 11 years ago.
But United fell asleep in the penultimate minute of injury time.
Nemanja Matic lost Simon Kjaer who stormed across the box to meet a corner and head home to make AC Milan favourites as they both meet in Italy next week in the second leg of this Europa League last 16 tie.
At least their new Ivory Coast star is up and running.
He played just five games scoring once for Atalanta yet that was enough to convince Ole Gunnar Solskjaer he was worth the £37million price tag.
Signed back in October he arrived in January after getting his work permit with Solskjaer promising United fans ‘one of the most exciting young prospects in the game’.
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MARK HALSEY'S VIEW
MANCHESTER UNITED were lucky when Franck Kessie’s first-half volley was ruled out for handball.
I don’t think there was conclusive evidence to show the ball hit the AC Milan midfielder’s arm in the build-up to his strike at goal.
VAR official Bastian Dankert checked the goal as per protocol and I was surprised he told referee Slavko Vincic to disallow the effort based on the replays shown.
It seemed to me that the ball hit Kessie’s side rather than his arm as he tried to control a throw-in.
Not one of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side appealed for handball.
Although the handball law will change from July 1, that would not impact on this decision because the new ruling only affects the ball hitting the hand/arm of a team-mate before a goal is scored.
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It won’t take much for him to excite fans more than Martial has this season.
He has just two goals since New Year’s Day both in the 9-0 win against Southampton after the Saints had long since given up.
Yes he was good last Sunday, without scoring, but that derby performance in the 2-0 derby win at Manchester City seems to be the exception rather than the rule right now.
Diallo, was previously known as Amad Traore but not prefers just Amad which he wears on his shirt, It could be a name now long remembered here.
There was controversy about exactly how he got to Italy with the couple who brought him apparently not his real parents.
He was recently fined £42,000 in an Italian court for apparently using false documents.
Whatever the confusion around his footballing journey it is clear to everyone at United is that they have a star here at Old Trafford.
Solskjaer’s half-time switch turned a game that AC Milan had dominated in the first period right on it’s head.
Although despite that domination it was actually Harry Maguire who was left wondering how he had not broken the deadlock.
It was the 38th minute when Alex Telles corner was headed on by Bruno Fernandes to reach Maguire at the far post.
It looked like a well-worked training ground routine until Maguire, from a yard out managed to hit the post rather than the net and the ball shot across goal.
Nobody looked more bemused than him at what he had done while others held their heads and tried to work out the geometry.
Either way the ball had stayed out.
At the other end the net was found twice only for an offside and handball to deny Milan the lead.
The game was just five minutes old when Rafael Leao burst onto a through ball and beat Dean Henderson with ease.
But sporadic celebrations from the Italian contingent in the Sir Bobby Charlton stand were cut short by the linesman’s flag.
Replays backed him as Leao had not retreated quickly enough before turning.
The next one just six minutes later was less clear cut even after the slowest of slow motion replays.
Davide Calabria threw the ball into the United box and Franck Kessie was given time to control it with his hip, let the ball bounce and then volley into the far top corner.
Three United players – Maguire, Scott McTominay and Nemanja Matic – just stood and watched it all.
There were no complaints either as the visitors acclaimed a cracking strike.
But as the game was about to restart referee Slavko Vincic put his finger to his ear piece and doubts entered everyone’s mind.
Replays are not clear whether it was hip or hand but the VAR went for hand and United had another reprieve.
So they will have been glad to get down the tunnel on level terms for Milan had been better in every department.
They may have been depleted by injuries but those who came in stepped as they pinged the ball about United’s area.
The Red Devils were missing Marcus Rashford and Edinson Cavani too and in their absence nobody was threatening.
Not Martial for one, as Solskjaer recognised making the change that won the game.
But as so often happens under Solskjaer the performance raises a level after the break and straight from the restart United looked better.
They had found a way through.
It was not enough and that injury time goal has left the tie tipped in Milan’s favour.
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