AC Milan have progressed to the semi-final of the 2022-23 UEFA Champions League after defeating Napoli on Tuesday night. The Rossoneri defied the odds to eliminate their Serie A rivals after drawing 1-1 at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium and securing a 2-1 aggregate win.
Milan clinched their ticket thanks to Olivier Giroud's goal which resulted from a brilliant counter-attack initiated by Rafael Leao ahead of the half-time break. Prior to that, the 36-year-old French striker had missed a penalty that was won by Leao inside the first 25 minutes.
In the second half, Napoli had a couple of opportunities to get back into the tie but failed to do so. Playmaker Kvicha Kvaratskhelia failed to convert a crucial spot-kick in the 81st minute - his third miss of the Champions League campaign - before Victor Oshimen got the equalizer in the 93rd minute.
Needless to say, it was too little too late for the Nigerian striker's side who crashed out of the Champions League after failing to manage a win. The result condemned Luiciano Spalletti to a new low as it was the third time in his managerial career that he had failed to progress from the semi-final of Europe's elite competition.
For AC Milan, the night's feat meant that they have reached the semi-finals of the Champions League for the first time since 2006/07. Having taking their last four qualification count to seven, the Rossoneri join Juventus as the Italian team with the most participations in this phase of the competition.
This is Milan. #NapoliMilan #UCL #SempreMilan pic.twitter.com/mOs5jW96t9
— AC Milan (@acmilan) April 18, 2023
