AC Milan’s star striker, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, made historical past on Saturday by changing into the oldest participant ever to attain a aim in Serie A however the pleasure was short-lived because the defending champions suffered a crushing 3-1 loss to Udinese, dealing a major setback to their hopes of securing a top-four end
Milan missed the prospect to leap to second and remained fourth with 48 factors, a degree away from fifth-placed AS Roma, who play Lazio on Sunday.
“It was a unfavorable efficiency. When the crew performs like this, neither aggressive, nor intense, nor exact or targeted, it means the coach has labored badly in making ready the match. We have been too far beneath our capabilities this night,” Milan supervisor Stefano Pioli informed Sky Sport Italia.
“Look, it’s clear we gained’t retain the Scudetto, however we are able to win this mini league of groups making an attempt to qualify for the Champions League. We wish and may do higher this season.”
Udinese took the lead after 9 minutes when Lazar Samardzic intercepted a poor cross from Ismael Bennacer in midfield and surged ahead into the field, the place Roberto Pereyra latched onto the ball and slotted it into the proper nook.
It took Milan 20 minutes to get a foothold within the match after the hosts had taken an aggressive method from the primary whistle, creating a number of possibilities to double their lead.
It was Milan who struck subsequent, nevertheless, albeit in complicated circumstances.
Milan striker Ibrahimovic first missed a penalty after a handball late within the first half, earlier than it was ordered to be retaken resulting from encroachment after play had already continued for a minute. Udinese coach Andrea Sottil was despatched off after verbally abusing the referee following the choice.
Ibrahimovic, who was beginning his first sport since January 2022, didn’t miss a second time, changing 4 minutes into first-half stoppage time, to change into the oldest goalscorer in Serie A historical past at 41 years and 166 days.
He surpassed the earlier document set by Alessandro Costacurta in 2007 by 141 days. Costacurta additionally scored his final aim from the penalty spot for Milan in a defeat towards Udinese.
The celebrations have been short-lived, nevertheless, as Beto put Udinese again forward two minutes later when he transformed an Isaac Success cross from shut vary.
Udinese made certain of the win when an unmarked Kingsley Ehizibue tapped in a cross from Future Udogie on the again put up within the seventieth minute.
The win maintained Udinese’s hopes of enjoying in Europe subsequent season, as they moved as much as eighth place, seven factors behind Atalanta in sixth, the final qualification place.