Alexandre Pato's brilliant extra-time winner sends AC Milan into the quarter-finals of the Coppa Italia at the expense of hard-working Novara.
Italian champions AC Milan needed an extra-time winner to advance to the quarter-finals of the Coppa Italia at the expense of a stubborn Novara at the San Siro stadium on Wednesday.
A first-half strike from youngster Stephan El Shaarawy appeared to be enough for Milan to go through, but with two minutes left in regulation time Ivan Radovanovic drew the visitors level to send the match into extra-time.
However, their joy was short-lived as substitute Alexandre Pato sent Milan into the quarter-finals of the competition with a 100th-minute winner.
Milan were looking to rebound from their devastating defeat to arch-rival Inter on Sunday, and they dominated the early moments of the game with significant territorial control of the ball.
Massimiliano Allegri opted to rest several of his regular starters, including Pato, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Thiago Silva and Ignazio Abate. While the likes of Filippo Inzaghi, Alexander Merkel and El Shaarawy were presented with rare opportunities from the kick-off.
In fact it was one of these players that put Milan ahead, when in the 24th minute El Shaarawy found the back of the net with a spectacular low shot from 20-metres out.
Eight minutes later the 19-year-old almost doubled Milan's advantage, when he powered into the area from the left flank after a swift counter-attack, but after cutting into the area his shot was somehow deflected over the crossbar by Novara goalkeeper Alberto Fontana.
Novara were actually very lively when moving into Milan's half, but when they reached the area their tame efforts rarely troubled Milan goalkeeper Marco Amelia.
In the second period the Rossoneri continued to create clear-cut goal-scoring opportunities, but they were very wasteful when it came down to finishing off their opponents.
While it seemed that Milan would secure a narrow but deserved victory, they were made to rue their missed opportunities, when in the 89th minute they were punished by Radovanovic, whose magnificent free-kick unexpectedly sent the game into extra-time.
Milan started the remaining half hour as the dominant side, and they went on to secure passage into the quarter-finals when in the 100th minute the Brazilian connection of Robinho and Pato combined for their winning goal.
Robinho split two Novara defenders with a superb lob into the path of the onrushing Pato who cleverly chipped the ball over Fontana, before half volleying the ball into an unguarded net.
Milan will go onto face Lazio in the quarter-finals of the Coppa Italia at the San Siro stadium on January 26.
A first-half strike from youngster Stephan El Shaarawy appeared to be enough for Milan to go through, but with two minutes left in regulation time Ivan Radovanovic drew the visitors level to send the match into extra-time.
However, their joy was short-lived as substitute Alexandre Pato sent Milan into the quarter-finals of the competition with a 100th-minute winner.
Milan were looking to rebound from their devastating defeat to arch-rival Inter on Sunday, and they dominated the early moments of the game with significant territorial control of the ball.
Massimiliano Allegri opted to rest several of his regular starters, including Pato, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Thiago Silva and Ignazio Abate. While the likes of Filippo Inzaghi, Alexander Merkel and El Shaarawy were presented with rare opportunities from the kick-off.
In fact it was one of these players that put Milan ahead, when in the 24th minute El Shaarawy found the back of the net with a spectacular low shot from 20-metres out.
Eight minutes later the 19-year-old almost doubled Milan's advantage, when he powered into the area from the left flank after a swift counter-attack, but after cutting into the area his shot was somehow deflected over the crossbar by Novara goalkeeper Alberto Fontana.
Novara were actually very lively when moving into Milan's half, but when they reached the area their tame efforts rarely troubled Milan goalkeeper Marco Amelia.
In the second period the Rossoneri continued to create clear-cut goal-scoring opportunities, but they were very wasteful when it came down to finishing off their opponents.
While it seemed that Milan would secure a narrow but deserved victory, they were made to rue their missed opportunities, when in the 89th minute they were punished by Radovanovic, whose magnificent free-kick unexpectedly sent the game into extra-time.
Milan started the remaining half hour as the dominant side, and they went on to secure passage into the quarter-finals when in the 100th minute the Brazilian connection of Robinho and Pato combined for their winning goal.
Robinho split two Novara defenders with a superb lob into the path of the onrushing Pato who cleverly chipped the ball over Fontana, before half volleying the ball into an unguarded net.
Milan will go onto face Lazio in the quarter-finals of the Coppa Italia at the San Siro stadium on January 26.
