Olivier Giroud sends AC Milan into Champions League semis despite late Napoli rally
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AC Milan's Olivier Giroud celebrates scoring their first goal.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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NAPLES – AC Milan coach Stefano Pioli is looking forward to an all-Italian Champions League semi-final, with none other than city rivals Inter Milan.
On Tuesday, his side reached the last four of the competition, thanks to a first-half goal from Olivier Giroud at Napoli that secured a 1-1 draw and 2-1 aggregate win despite a barrage of pressure from the home side.
Napoli battled until the end but could not break down the resilient Milan defence, until striker Victor Osimhen equalised three minutes into stoppage time with a bullet header, which came too late.
Seven-time European champions Milan will now face either Inter or Benfica, who were scheduled to meet on Wednesday at the San Siro with the Italian side leading 2-0 from the first leg.
The result was not available at press time but Pioli said he would welcome a semi-final date with Inter.
“It would look like that, as Inter won the first leg so well. These will be another two difficult, exciting and wonderful clashes in the Champions League. We’ve done a great deal and don’t want to stop now,” he told Mediaset.
This was the third meeting between Milan and Napoli in 16 days, with Pioli’s visiting side having claimed a 4-0 victory against the runaway Serie A leaders on April 2.
After Milan won the quarter-final first leg 1-0, Napoli pushed for the opening goal from the start as the visitors were forced to defend deep.
“I think the small advantage of the 1-0 in the first leg helped us in one sense and blocked us in another,” Pioli added.
“We chose, considering Osimhen was there, to sit a little deeper and not allow him those spaces where he can be devastating.”
Milan struggled in a raucous atmosphere, with loud boos resounding throughout the stadium every time they gained possession. But they held off an aggressive Napoli side for most of the match with an impressive defensive display.
As a result of the intense pressure exerted by the hosts, Milan were able to exploit the holes in the home defence and went ahead through Giroud just before the interval.
Napoli had a glimmer of hope eight minutes from time when Fikayo Tomori handled the ball inside the box, but Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s penalty was saved by Mike Maignan.
Osimhen was shackled all night until his added-time header but it came too late for Napoli and their disappointed fans.
“I want to compliment my players, as our Champions League campaign was played at a very high level,” said Napoli coach Luciano Spalletti.
“Some of our players who came back from international duty were struggling, especially Osimhen, who was out for 20 days after that injury. Then (we had) a few errors.” REUTERS
