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AC Milan Need 24 Penalties To Squeeze Past Portuguese Minnows In Europa League

AC Milan Need 24 Penalties To Squeeze Past Portuguese Minnows In Europa League

AC Milan endured a 24-penalty shootout against Portuguese minnows Rio Ave before they eventually triumphed to reach the Europa League.

Matthew Stanger

Matthew Stanger

AC Milan squeezed into the Europa League group stage after a dramatic 24-penalty shootout win against Portuguese opponents Rio Ave.

Milan have been regarded as fallen giants of European football over the last decade and almost missed out on qualification entirely in an end-to-end game.

Stefano Pioli's side were without the quarantined Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who tested positive for coronavirus last week, and it showed just how much they miss their talisman on a nervy night.

Despite taking the lead in the 51st minute through Belgian midfielder Alexis Saelemaekers, Stefano Pioli's side were soon pegged back by the hosts and then fell behind in the first minute of extra time.

It looked as though Rio Ave would secure one of the greatest results in their history as the clock ticked down, but fortunately for Milan they were awarded a spot-kick in the 122nd minute, which Hakan Calhanoglu converted to send the tie into a nerve-shredding shootout.

Every player from both teams was forced to step up from the spot with the drama posted in all its glory on Twitter following the game.

After both goalkeepers missed from 12 yards, Milan eventually triumphed 9-8 following a brilliant save by Gianluigi Donnarumma as Rio Ave blew three chances to win it in sudden death.

The real hero of the night, however, was the admin on AC Milan's Twitter account, who must have regretted their decision to tweet the shootout kick by excruciating kick.

Milan now wait to find out who they'll face in the group stage in Friday's live-streamed Europa League draw from Switzerland.

The Italian giants, who also defeated Irish side Shamrock Rovers in qualifying, failed to make it past the group stage last season and were knocked out by Arsenal in the Round of 16 the year before that.

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Topics:Β Football News, Football, Europa League, AC Milan