In a dramatic opening match of the Serie A season, AC Milan fought back from two goals down to secure a thrilling 2-2 draw against Torino at San Siro. The match saw a mix of excitement and frustration as Milan struggled to find their rhythm but showed resilience in the closing moments.
The first half began with Milan looking to assert their dominance, but it was Torino who struck first. In the 30th minute, a bizarre sequence led to the opening goal. Raoul Bellanova’s header hit the post and, in an unfortunate turn of events, Milan’s Malick Thiaw inadvertently turned the rebound into his own net while attempting to clear the ball off the line. This goal stunned the home crowd and gave Torino a surprising lead.
Milan responded with urgency, creating several chances but failing to convert. Duvan Zapata came close to doubling Torino’s advantage, but his effort was saved by Milan’s goalkeeper Mike Maignan. The Rossoneri continued to push for an equalizer, with Rafael Leao and Christian Pulisic both testing Torino’s defence, but they couldn’t find the back of the net before half-time.
After the break, Torino extended their lead in the 68th minute. A well-worked move down the left saw Valentin Lazaro deliver a precise cross, which Duvan Zapata headed in from close range, putting Milan in a difficult position at 2-0.
Milan’s response was immediate, with head coach Paulo Fonseca making a triple substitution to inject fresh energy into the team. Alvaro Morata, who had just come on, thought he had earned a penalty shortly after his introduction, but the referee overturned the decision after a VAR review confirmed that Torino’s Saul Coco had made a clean tackle.
With time running out, Milan finally broke through in the 89th minute. Tijjani Reijnders unleashed a powerful shot that was redirected by Morata, wrong-footing Torino’s goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic and bringing the score to 2-1. The home side’s hopes were reignited as they pushed for an equalizer.
In a dramatic finish, Milan equalized deep into stoppage time. Yunus Musah delivered a cross from the right, and Noah Okafor volleyed it home from ten yards, sending the San Siro crowd into a frenzy. The goal capped off a remarkable comeback and ensured that Milan salvaged a point from what had looked like a disappointing start to the season.
After the match, Fonseca reflected on the performance, stating, “We were passive in the first half and lacked intensity, but the team showed great character to come back. There is a lot to improve, but I am proud of the way we fought until the end.”
