Champions League: Feyenoord Make Historic Round of 16 Qualification From AC Milan Defeat

 

Feyenoord have secured their place in the knockouts from a 1-1 draw against 10-man AC Milan in the playoff second leg tie and progressed on aggregate of 2-1 to the Champions League last 16, 

With a victory in the bag from the first-leg tie, Feyenoord had a good headstart over Milan, whom they defeated en route to lifting the Champions League trophy for the first time in 1970. They played carefully maintaining a defensive approach until Theo Hernandez. 

The Italians had taken the lead from the first half of the first minutes through Gimenez. Pulisic set the situation from his cross, which was nodded into Gimenez's path for a tap-in. The opposition later leveled the terms in the last quarter from Julian Carranza's header following Bueno's cross. 

Feyernood held on to the lead as Milan desperately searched for an equalizer that eluded them. The game went even rowdier in the stoppages as Feyenoord dropped a man following the red carding of Givairo Read. 

Milan have not been eliminated from the Champions League in the knockout by a Dutch side since 1994/95 by Ajax. The victory sealed Feyenoord's first Champions League last-16 appearance in 55 years. 

Overview 

Milan handed Feyenoord the victory because it lost Hernandez too early into the second half. Otherwise, the game would have gone the distance. They had shown stronger influence, coupled with Gimenez's lead goal. Joao Felix and Rafael Leao played crucial roles in keeping the offensive. 

Feyenoord maintained their capability of catching the Italian on the counter and having a one-man advantage over Milan further weakened the Italians. Tammy Abraham was closely marked, barely able to have a shot on target.