AC Milan Advances to 2024-2025 Coppa Italia Semifinals After Defeating AS Roma

AC Milan has secured a place in the semifinals of the Coppa Italia 2024-2025 after a hard-fought victory over AS Roma. The win brings Milan one step closer to claiming the prestigious domestic cup title and adds to their ambitions of securing silverware this season.

The match, held at the iconic San Siro Stadium, was a thrilling encounter that saw Milan take early control of possession. The Rossoneri pressed high against Roma’s defensive setup, forcing the visitors into their own half. AS Roma, on the other hand, relied on counterattacks, attempting to capitalize on Milan’s attacking approach.

The breakthrough for Milan came in the 35th minute when Rafael Leão capitalized on a defensive lapse. The Portuguese forward, who has been instrumental for Milan this season, received a perfectly placed pass from Tijjani Reijnders, cut inside past two defenders, and calmly slotted the ball past Roma’s goalkeeper, Rui Patrício, giving Milan a well-deserved lead.

AS Roma, determined to stage a comeback, intensified their attacking efforts in the second half. Paulo Dybala and Romelu Lukaku led several promising attacks, but Milan’s defense, anchored by Fikayo Tomori and Theo Hernández, remained resolute. Roma’s best chance came in the 52nd minute when Lorenzo Pellegrini’s long-range shot forced Mike Maignan into a superb save to deny the equalizer.

Milan continued to threaten Roma’s defense with quick build-up plays and high pressing. In the 68th minute, the Rossoneri doubled their advantage through a brilliant counterattack. Olivier Giroud played a precise pass to Christian Pulisic, who made a darting run into the box and calmly finished past the keeper, making it 2-0 for Milan. The American winger’s form has been pivotal in Milan’s attacking success this season.

Despite trailing by two goals, Roma did not back down and continued to push forward. Their efforts almost paid off in the 75th minute when Paulo Dybala unleashed a curling effort from the edge of the box, but Maignan was once again up to the task with a crucial save. Roma’s frustration grew as Milan’s defense continued to stand firm against their onslaught. In the final moments of the game, Milan had an opportunity to extend their lead when a swift counterattack saw Theo Hernández in a one-on-one situation with Rui Patrício. However, the Roma goalkeeper made a fantastic save to deny the left-back, keeping the score at 2-0.

Milan manager Stefano Pioli praised his team’s performance, stating, “The players showed incredible determination and tactical discipline. Advancing to the semifinals is a crucial step, and we will keep fighting to lift the trophy. This competition is important for us, and we want to bring joy to our fans.”

Meanwhile, Roma coach Daniele De Rossi expressed disappointment but remained optimistic about the team’s future performances. “We gave everything on the pitch, but Milan were more clinical. We will now focus on the league and our European ambitions. We have a strong squad, and I believe we will bounce back from this setback,” he remarked.

With this victory, AC Milan edges closer to winning their first Coppa Italia title since 2003. The Rossoneri have struggled in domestic cup competitions in recent years, but this season presents a golden opportunity to break that drought. The team will now await their semifinal opponent, with fans eagerly anticipating their next challenge in the tournament.

Milan’s focus will now shift to their upcoming Serie A and European fixtures, as they aim to maintain momentum across all competitions. With key players like Rafael Leão, Christian Pulisic, and Mike Maignan delivering standout performances, Milan’s confidence will be high as they look to continue their winning ways.