Tijjani Reijnders played a key role in AC Milan’s 2-1 comeback victory over Como on Saturday, while Dele Alli’s long-awaited debut for Como ended in disappointment after he was sent off just minutes after coming on.
The match at San Siro was a tense affair, with Milan struggling early on and facing the frustration of their home fans. Como took a surprising lead in the 33rd minute when Lucas Da Cunha found the net, putting pressure on the hosts. The Milan supporters, already displeased with the club’s ownership, made their feelings known at halftime as the team left the field to loud boos.
After the break, Milan responded with urgency. Reijnders, who was instrumental throughout the game, set up Christian Pulisic for the equalizer just seven minutes into the second half. The Dutch midfielder continued to shine and came close to scoring when his shot struck the crossbar. However, he finally found the breakthrough in the 76th minute after receiving a well-placed pass from Tammy Abraham, securing Milan’s win.
Reijnders’ goal not only sealed three points for Milan but also spared his teammates from further criticism from their fans, who have been protesting against the club’s owners, RedBird Capital. Despite the win, Milan remains seventh in Serie A, still fighting for a European qualification spot.
On the other hand, Como put up a strong fight and showed resilience against one of Italy’s biggest clubs. The team, currently sitting in 13th place and seven points above the relegation zone, can take positives from their performance despite the defeat.
However, the night ended on a sour note for Como as Dele Alli, making his debut for the club, was shown a straight red card in the final minute for a reckless challenge on Ruben Loftus-Cheek. The former Tottenham midfielder had only just come on as a substitute before the incident cut his return to football short. Adding to Como’s frustrations, their coach Cesc Fabregas was also sent off for dissent moments later.
