By by Kiara Jones, our man in Milan
MILAN, ITALY — AC Milan’s Scudetto charge took an unexpected, and frustrating, twist this afternoon as they were held to a breathless 2-2 draw by a determined Sassuolo side at the iconic Stadio Giuseppe Meazza.
The Rossoneri, who desperately needed a home win to maintain their grip at the summit of the Serie A table, were left stunned as Sassuolo battled tooth and nail to secure a valuable point in the cathedral of Italian football.
All eyes were on the famous San Siro (the venue’s common name, shared with the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza) for this Matchday 15 encounter.
The massive, multi-tiered stadium, one of the world’s most recognizable football grounds, was rocking with the passionate home support, expecting a comfortable three points. However, the atmosphere quickly turned to anxiety.
Sassuolo, often a bogey team for the Milan giants on their own patch, took an early lead when Ismaël Koné fired home in the 10th minute. The famous Meazza roar was silenced, replaced by nervous murmurs as the visitors threatened an upset.
Milan responded with trademark grit. Davide Bartesaghi pulled the hosts level in the 34th minute, heading a Ruben Loftus-Cheek cross past the Sassuolo keeper. The equalizer sparked a wave of renewed hope among the faithful packed into the colossal structure.
After the break, the game settled into a cagey affair on the hallowed San Siro pitch. Milan pushed for the winner, but it was Sassuolo who delivered the next blow.
The visitor’s star attacker, Armand Laurienté, silenced the crowd for a second time, finding the net in the 77th minute with a clinical right-footed shot to make it 2-1 to the underdogs.
The Rossoneri were not done. They threw everything forward, leveraging the sheer size and electric atmosphere of their home ground, and were rewarded just ten minutes later. Striker Christian Pulisic, who had been introduced as a substitute, smashed home the equalizer in the 84th minute to bring the score to 2-2.
Despite a frantic final few minutes, which saw Milan press desperately on their massive stage, the score remained unchanged.
The two-time European champions, AC Milan, will be hugely disappointed not to have clinched a win at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, dropping crucial points in the title race. Sassuolo, however, will see the point earned at one of Europe’s grandest stadiums as a major achievement.
