Samuel Chukwueze scored the winning goal as 10-man AC Milan defeated Maduka Okoye’s Udinese 1-0 at the San Siro in Saturday’s Serie A action, Afrosport reports.
The 25-year-old returned to full training with the Rossoneri after a muscle injury that made him miss the Super Eagles squad ill-fated trip to Libya.
He scored with a left-footed strike into the bottom corner in the 13th minute after receiving Christian Pulisic’s pass inside the box.
It was Nigerian winger’s first league goal of the season after playing seven games without finding back of the net.
Milan almost doubled their lead which forced Okoye to make a sensational one-handed save from point-blank range, before the Nigerian keeper denied Ruben Loftus-Cheek at the near post.
Tijjani Reijnders received a straight red card in the 29th minute from referee Daniele Chiffi
for colliding with Udinese’s Sandi Lovric after he ran onto a long Jaka Bijol ball, who was clear on goal.
In the 45th minute, Udinese’s Kingsley Ehizibue had a goal ruled out for offside after receiving the ball from Jordan Zemura’s free kick.
Late drama ensued in the 95th minute when the referee disallowed Christian Kabasele’s rebound goal due to Ekkelenkamp’s toes being offside after a long VAR review.
There’s aura and then there’s Naija aura 🇳🇬😮💨#MilanUdinese #SempreMilan pic.twitter.com/pYFDlzUMNu
— AC Milan (@acmilan) October 19, 2024
Chukwueze who won the Player of the Match spoke after the game, saying: “It was very nice, especially because of the attitude. We defended well, there was a team spirit that led us to victory.
“A good feeling, very important for us. And this helps to give confidence, now we have to continue like this.”
Milan are third in the Serie A standings with 14 points, equal with Inter Milan in second and two behind leaders Napoli.
