The Bronx heart beats for football. Just like the iconic “I Love New York” shirts and countless Instagram posts from Times Square, the spirit of the city was alive at Yankee Stadium as Lorenzo Colombo and Marco Nasti led AC Milan to a memorable victory over Manchester City. Colombo snagged two goals against goalkeeper Ederson, celebrating with heart-shaped hand gestures, while Nasti netted the decisive third goal, prompting excited Milan fans to give a thumbs up in approval. Not bad for two young talents aged just 20 and 22.
However, this match comes with a twist. Nasti is set to move on to a new club shortly, while Colombo is flying to Italy today to join Empoli on loan, with an option for a permanent deal. While the Milan squad is in the midst of rebuilding under manager Paulo Fonseca, the game showcased some promising signs. Despite the ongoing development, the visit to Yankee Stadium proved fruitful for the team.
Unfortunately, there was a concern on the injury front as Alessandro Florenzi left the pitch with ice on his right knee after a collision with Erling Haaland. Tests scheduled for today will clarify the extent of his injury, stirring some apprehension among the squad.
Milan played a competitive match, and while Guardiola’s team featured many youngsters, the performance offered encouragement. Fonseca is keen on maintaining possession and drawing pressure from the opposition, even in their own defensive area. This approach aims to create superior positions across the pitch. Florenzi and Ismaël Bennacer held their ground in front of the defense, while Colombo, nominally the striker, dropped back to link up with Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
Milan began the game brightly, with a strike from Calabria, but things turned sour quickly. In just a minute’s span between the 18th and 19th minutes, Chukwueze missed an opportunity, and then Haaland scored after what some fans believed was a foul on Terracciano. Bobb outmaneuvered Tomori, allowing Haaland a clear shot. However, Milan regrouped and responded impressively. Between the 30th and 34th minutes, they netted two goals, both orchestrated by Chukwueze finding Colombo, who finished well on both occasions.
The second half introduced fresh faces as Milan switched from their traditional red and black to white, while City also made changes. This was all part of a promotional launch for their second kit, with proceeds from the auction benefiting the Success Academy Charter Schools program. City, in their bordeaux kits, made their presence felt with a goal from McAtee early in the second half, only for Nasti to restore Milan’s lead with a smart finish after finding space just outside the box.
The spotlight in the final moments of the game shifted to two promising youngsters. Lorenzo Torriani, a 2005-born goalkeeper, stepped up to play as the starter due to a minor hand issue with Sportsiello. He displayed incredible composure, even managing to make a crucial save against Haaland. Meanwhile, Oscar Bobb, the talented City left-footed player, created Haaland’s goal and looked dangerous himself after shifting to the left side, making his mark on the game.
Just a year ago, Milan fans had been raving about the potential of young stars like Yamal during a friendly against Barcelona. Now, with talents like Bobb, who shares a nationality with Haaland, they’re poised to make similar statements about their current prospects, ensuring that their reputation on the pitch remains firmly intact.
