AC Milan secured their place in the semifinals of the Coppa Italia with a convincing 3-1 victory over AS Roma at the iconic San Siro stadium. The match marked a significant moment for the Rossoneri, showcasing the impact of their recent signings as they delivered impressive performances.
The game unfolded with AC Milan asserting their dominance early on. Tammy Abraham, who controversially joined Milan on loan from Roma, was the star of the evening, scoring two goals. His first came just 16 minutes in, when he expertly headed home from Theo Hernández’s cross, sending the home crowd wild. The second goal followed shortly before halftime, where again, Abraham displayed his positional awareness to finish off a well-executed counterattack, giving Milan a commanding 2-0 lead.
Despite facing adversity, Roma managed to bounce back in the second half. The 'Loba' pulled one back through Artem Dovbyk, who skillfully converted in the 54th minute, following a well-placed cross by Angeliño. The goal sparked hope for Roma as they began pressing for an equalizer, producing several chances to challenge Milan's goalkeeper Mike Maignan.
Recognizing the urgency of the situation, Milan's coach Sérgio Conceição made pivotal substitutions by bringing on his new strikers, Santiago Giménez and João Félix, who had only just arrived at the club on deadline day. This tactical adjustment proved to be instrumental, as the two fresh signings combined seamlessly, highlighting their potential. Giménez, with remarkable vision, threaded through an exquisite pass to Félix, who coolly chipped the ball over Roma’s keeper Mile Svilar, sealing the score at 3-1.
"João Félix scored on his debut and Tammy Abraham netted a double against his parent club to earn AC Milan a 3-1 win over Roma," noted the Associated Press, emphatically emphasizing the significance of the players’ contributions to Milan’s triumph.
The night dazzled with promise, especially for the enthusiastic Milan supporters, who eagerly anticipated the presence of their new heroes. The electric atmosphere at San Siro was palpable, with fans chanting and celebrating the first goals of Félix and Giménez, who have rapidly become focal points of the team’s attacking arsenal. "It was all about the new signings tonight; they delivered under pressure," reported Agencia EFE, capturing the collective excitement surrounding the duo.
Looking forward, AC Milan has set their eyes on the next challenge—a two-legged semifinal fixture against either arch-rivals Inter Milan or Lazio, which will take place later this month. It’s evident the addition of Félix and Giménez has rejuvenated the squad, sparking hopes for more silverware this season after already clinching the Italian Super Cup last month.
With the victory over Roma, Milan proves not only their skill but also their depth, resilience, and readiness to contend at the highest levels of Italian football. They remain firmly on track, fueled by the talents of their new signings, as they aim for their first Coppa Italia title since 2003.
This game served as both statement and reminder of AC Milan’s illustrious history and their hunger to reclaim dominance on the domestic stage. The Rossoneri are poised to be back on the hunt, and fans can only wait with bated breath for what lies ahead.