Milan Overcomes Juventus 2-1 to Reach Super Cup Final Against Inter
AC Milan staged a thrilling comeback to defeat Juventus 2-1 on Friday in the Italian Super Cup semi-final, setting up a highly anticipated derby clash with Inter Milan in the final. The victory marked an impressive debut for new manager Sergio Conceicao, who replaced Paulo Fonseca earlier this week.
Juventus Strikes First
Juventus took the lead in the 21st minute when Kenan Yildiz, starting in place of the injured Francisco Conceicao (Sergio Conceicao’s son), capitalized on a perfect through ball from Samuel Mbangula. Yildiz smashed his shot into the roof of the net, beating Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan at his near post.
Juventus nearly doubled their lead early in the second half when Yildiz set up Dusan Vlahovic, but the Serbian forward sent his shot wide. Milan also missed a golden opportunity when Theo Hernandez, unmarked in the box, blasted a close-range shot over the bar.
Milan’s Second-Half Turnaround
Milan found their rhythm in the second half and equalized in the 71st minute through a Christian Pulisic penalty, awarded after Nicolo Savona fouled Hernandez. Pulisic calmly slotted the ball down the middle, beating Juventus goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio.
Just four minutes later, Milan took the lead with an own goal from Juventus defender Federico Gatti. A cross from Yunus Musah deflected off Gatti, catching Di Gregorio off his line and sealing the win for Milan.
Missed Chances and Final Whistle
Juventus had one final chance deep into stoppage time to send the game to penalties, but Gatti’s volley from close range narrowly missed the target. The defeat ended Juventus’s hopes of reclaiming the Super Cup title, while Milan celebrated a hard-fought victory.
Conceicao’s Impact
Sergio Conceicao praised his team’s resilience, particularly after a lackluster first half. “For our second-half performance, we deserved the final,” he told SportMediaset. “In the first half, I saw a Milan with doubts, but we spoke at halftime about what we needed to do. The players were brave.”
The victory sets up a Milan Derby in Monday’s final against Inter Milan, who defeated Atalanta 2-0 in their semi-final. Conceicao now has the opportunity to deny Inter their fourth consecutive Super Cup title.
Looking Ahead
Despite the triumph, Conceicao remains cautious. “The second half was completely different, but we haven’t achieved anything yet. We have one less day to recover, which is an important factor.”
The Super Cup final promises to be a fiery showdown, as Milan and Inter clash for the coveted trophy in what could be a defining moment for Conceicao’s early tenure.
