MILAN – AC Milan emerged as the winners from this afternoon's much-anticipated derby in Week 24 of the Primavera championship - a huge setback for the Nerazzurri Under-19s in their bid to finish second and seal automatic qualification to the Final Eight.
After a cagey opening 45 minutes, Belloni was presented with a wonderful chance to open the scoring for Daniele Bernazzani's side in first-half stoppage time. The 18-year-old winger found himself clean through on goal only to see Rossoneri keeper Rafael pull off a top-drawer save to deny him.
After the restart Ganz swooped to turn in Pedone's low cross in the 65th minute for what proved to be the matchwinner.
However, Inter will feel hard done by after Spendlhofer had a perfectly good goal chalked off after 88 minutes: the referee ruled that the Austrian defender had fouled Rafael as the keeper tried to make a catch, when in fact the only contact made was with a Rossoneri shirt.
There was still time for the Nerazzurri to rally again though as they fashioned another great opportunity to snatch a point in the 91st minute: Bocar fizzed a ball into the box but it shot agonisingly in front of Mbaye when a touch was all that was needed. Spendlhofer was brought down inside the box by Lucarini even deeper into injury time, but the referee waved play on.
These three points mean that AC Milan have leapfrogged Inter into second, which guarantees a place in the end-of-season finale. With only two games left to play, Bernazzani's boys now face the prospect of finishing third and having to go through a play-off to reach the June tournament.
Inter 0-1 AC Milan (HT: 0-0)
Scorer: Ganz 65.
Inter (4-3-3): 1 Di Gennaro; 2 Bandini, 4 Spendlhofer, 5 Pasa, 3 Alborno (Ferrara 56); 6 Mbaye, 8 Tassi (Gabbianelli 30), 10 Olsen; 7 Belloni (Bocar 77), 9 Forte, 11 Garritano.
Subs not used: 12 Dalle Vedove, 13 Zaro, 14 Paramatti, 16 Palazzi, 18 Pedrabissi, 19 Terrani, 20 Bocar, 21 Smug.
Coach: Daniele Bernazzani.
AC Milan (4-3-1-2): 1 Rafael; 2 Ferretti, 4 Lucarini, 6 Pacifico, 3 Pinato; 7 Pedone (Spagnoli 88), 8 Cristante, 5 Bastone (Piccinocchi 90+1); 10 Lora; 11 Ganz (Tamas 78), 9 Petagna.
Subs not used: 12 Andrenacci, 16 Iotti, 17 Aniekan, 18 Henty, 19 Rondanini, 20 De Feo, 21 Bortoli, 22 Claveria, 23 Speranza.
Coach: Aldo Dolcetti.
Referee: Lorenzo Illuzzi (Molfetta).
Booked: Lora 29, Pinato 42, Mbaye 43, Ferretti 75.
Added time: 3 + 5 minutes.
