AC Milan Triumphs Over Club Brugge in UEFA Champions League Clash!
Date: 22/10/24 | Venue: San Siro
Well, wasn’t that something?! AC Milan took on Club Brugge, and if you thought the Italians would roll over and play dead, you’d best believe it: they didn’t even bring a pillow! What a match we had, with plenty of drama, goals, and a sprinkle of that classic football chaos. Let’s break it down!
Match Overview
- 20′ – Yellow Card: Joaquin Seys
- 23′ – Yellow Card: Ardon Jashari
- 34′ – Goal: Christian Pulisic (1 – 0)
- 40′ – Red Card: Raphael Onyedika
- 51′ – Goal: Kyriani Sabbe (1 – 1)
- 61′ – Goal: Tijjani Reijnders (2 – 1)
- 71′ – Goal: Tijjani Reijnders (3 – 1)
- 88′ – Yellow Card: Francesco Camarda
Key Moments
Club Brugge started with gusto! They were putting on a whirlwind show early, almost as if they had trained for this match by watching Bon Jovi concerts. Sadly for them, after a bright start, a corner from Pulisic would bring about an Olympic goal that had Brugge spinning like they’d just watched a David Brent dance-off. And to top it off, the unfortunate Onyedika’s reckless challenge left them with ten men — not the kind of numbers you want when playing against seasoned pros!
Man of the Match
If goals won medals, Tijjani Reijnders would have walked out with several Olympic golds today. Scoring not one, but two vital goals after the Leão substitution proved to be the turning point. Let’s face it, the Milanese side got their act together just in time — it’s like they were waiting for their espresso to kick in! Thank you, Tijjani!
Remarkable Moment
Everyone loves a good Olympic goal, right? Pulisic delivered something special, curling a corner straight into the net. It’s the kind of goal that makes you want to call your mates at 3 a.m. just to tell them you witnessed history. Pity Club Brugge had to witness a bit of agony, though — have a word with your defenses, lads!
The Game Recap
Now, allow me to regale you with the unfolding drama. Club Brugge opened like a bottle of sparkling water — surprising, bubbly, and potentially explosive. Tzolis was knocking on the door but met with Maignan, who showed why he’d been picked like the last donut in the box. Just moments later, Pulisic’s corner kick left the Brugge team in disbelief, turning them around faster than my mate at a karaoke night. Then, the red card! It was like a sketch from a comedy show—one minute you’re fighting for the ball, and the next, you’re walking off in disgrace.
But what do the Brugge boys do? They regroup and pull off a cheeky equalizer from Sabbe! The San Siro crowd felt a shift — a glimmer of hope. Alas, what followed was a classic case of ‘it’s all fun and games until someone scores on you twice in ten minutes.’ Reijnders, the villain-turned-hero, sealed the deal with his brace, putting Milan firmly in charge.
The Last Laugh
As time wound down, you could sense the realization from Club Brugge—they were the underdogs who had their moments but just couldn’t seal the deal. Milan had already secured their first points of this Champions League, and Club was left with a valuable lesson: dreams can turn to nightmares faster than a Netflix horror film! Final score: 4-1, kids!
Final Thoughts
So there we have it! Another twist in the Champions League tale with big smiles from the Milan fans and a few tears from those in Brugge. But hey, that’s football! Until next time, keep your snacks close and your hopes higher. Cheers!
AC MilanClub Brugge
UEFA Champions League – Matchday 3 – 22/10/24 – 6:45 PM
timeiconplayerhomeTimehomeIconhomePlayerscoreawayPlayerawayIconawayTime
34′
Christian Pulisic
34′
Christian Pulisic
1 – 0
51′
Kyriani Sabbe
1 – 1
Kyriani Sabbe
51′
61′
Tijjani Reijnders
61′
Tijjani Reijnders
2 – 1
71′
Tijjani Reijnders
71′
Tijjani Reijnders
3 – 1
There was more to this. Club Brugge opened openly against Milan, but misses by Tzolis and the crossbar prevented them from taking a lead. The Italians had more luck with an Olympic goal. Despite red for Onyedika, blue-black still fought for an equalizer. But two goals from Reijnders killed Club completely.
AC Milan – Club Brugge in a nutshell:
Club Brugge starts the match in San Siro excellently, but in two crazy minutes things go completely wrong. Pulisic scores 1-0 and Onyedika takes red. The latter in particular was decisive tonight.
Rafael Leao was a scourge for the Bruges defense. Yet the Milanese only climbed over Club after his substitution. The Rossoneri thank Tijjani Reijnders for this, because the Dutchman scored the second and third.
We don’t see an Olympic goal every day. Pulisic curled his corner past a bunch of players and past Mignolet. Well done, although it was especially disappointing for Club Brugge.
The Bruges whirlwind rages through San Siro
“We have been undefeated at San Siro for 21 years,” said Nicky Hayen before the clash with AC Milan. Obviously a joke, but it showed that Club believed in a stunt, just like all those years ago.
This quickly became even clearer in the opening phase of the match. Tzolis had a chance after less than 2 minutes, but Maignan showed his class with a foot reflex.
It was the start of a whirlwind for Bruges, which emphatically claimed the 0-1. Ordoñez hit the crossbar, Tzolis was once again kept from the opening goal by Maignan and Jutgla also bumped into the Frenchman.
As so often happens, you get the lid on your nose. Christian Pulisic shook San Siro for the first time shortly after the half hour. He painted a corner kick into the goal through a bunch of players in one go. An Olympic goal that arrived as a strong blow to Club.
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Two minutes after the first blow, another hammer blow followed. Raphael Onyedika and Reijnders fought for a loose ball, the Nigerian arrived too late and planted his foot on the Dutchman’s ankle.
Referee Zwayer estimated the phase in reverse and awarded blue-black a free kick. But the VAR had seen what had just happened.
The German had to go to the screen and corrected: a justified exclusion for the midfielder. But above all also the turning point of the party.
Related:
A glimmer of hope, but then the blow of death
Club Brugge got through the rest of the first half unscathed and even did the unthinkable shortly after the break.
With 10 men it put on an excellent combination. Substitute Sabbe was the final goal, the right back blasted in the equalizer from across the corner.
When star Leao was also taken off the field 10 minutes later, it seemed like there was a stunt involved. But his replacement had barely been on the field for 20 seconds when he scored a nice assist, Reijnders putting Milan ahead again.
The Rossoneri pushed on and finally had some breathing space 10 minutes later. Chukwueze left Vanaken behind with an acceleration, just like with the 2-1, Reijnders was also able to easily slide in the third.
So again no stunt for Club. Although, based on the first half hour, there was certainly more to it. Milan has won its first points in this Champions League and rises alongside Club in the rankings.
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End!
For a moment, Club Brugge was allowed to dream of a stunt. Sabbe scored 1-1 shortly after half-time, but in the end the 10 people from Bruges had to give in. Reijnders was the culprit of the evening, Milan lifted themselves next to Club in the rankings with a first three-pointer.
Club tries again to open the window in extra time, but Sabbe and Skoras cannot get very far over the halfway line. Milan then simply passes the ball around.
An extra 5 minutes will be added.
San Siro is disappointed, because the party is canceled. Camarda was offside. So the 3-1 remains on the board.
Camarda with the 4-1
The very young substitute Francesco Camarda makes it an evening to remember. The 16-year-old striker scores the 4-1.
Pulisic tries again with an acceleration towards the goal, again without success. Vanaken immediately offers Chukwueze a new shooting opportunity.
Pulisic makes his way straight through the center to the goal and is allowed to advance into the 16. The last defender is too much and the American cannot print.
Last change
Casper Nielsen can also make some minutes. He relieves Jashari for the last 10 minutes.
Club is pushed against its own goal, but Milan seems to be in economy mode. We certainly cannot call this an eager search for the 4-1.
Pulisic remains down after a collision with Vetlesen. The American grabs his knee. The pace disappears completely from the match, the last fifteen minutes seem to be a waste of time.
The very young Camarda gets his chance at Milan. Barely 16 years old, but the talent already seems to be a crowd favorite. San Siro is going wild, does the young attacker also show something?
