AC Milan dramatically ended their six-game losing streak against city rivals Inter Milan with a last-gasp 2-1 victory. The match, played on a balmy Sunday evening at the iconic San Siro stadium, saw Matteo Gabbia emerge as the unlikely hero, his thunderous 89th-minute header sealing a crucial win for the Rossoneri and igniting wild celebrations among the red and black faithful.
As the sun set over Milan on September 22, 2024, the air was thick with anticipation. The San Siro, a colosseum of modern football, buzzed with the energy of 80,000 spectators, each aware they were about to witness the 237th official Derby della Madonnina. The stakes were high – Inter Milan entered the match with a chance to claim the top spot in Serie A, while AC Milan desperately sought to silence critics after a shaky start to their campaign.
From the moment referee Daniele Orsato blew the opening whistle at 8:45 PM local time, it was clear this derby would live up to its billing.
The deadlock was broken in spectacular fashion just ten minutes into the match. Christian Pulisic, AC Milan’s American star, received the ball on the right flank, cut inside past two Inter defenders, and unleashed a curling left-footed shot that nestled into the top corner, leaving Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer rooted to the spot.
I saw a small gap and just went for it,” Pulisic explained after the match, his eyes still gleaming with excitement. In derbies like this, sometimes you need a moment of magic, and I’m just glad I could provide that for the team and our fans.”
The goal sent the Milan half of the stadium into raptures, with thousands of red and black scarves twirling in unison, creating a mesmerizing spectacle.
Inter Milan, true to their championship pedigree, didn’t take long to respond. In the 29th minute, Federico Dimarco capitalized on a moment of hesitation in the Milan defense. The Italian left-back ghosted in at the far post to volley home a cross from Nicolò Barella, bringing parity to the scoreline and silencing the Milan faithful.
Inter manager Simone Inzaghi, animated on the touchline, later reflected on that moment: “Federico’s goal was crucial. It showed our resilience and ability to fight back. At that point, I truly believed we could go on and win the match.”
As the second half unfolded, AC Milan began to assert their dominance, creating a flurry of chances that had the Inter defense scrambling. Rafael Leão, Milan’s Portuguese dynamo, came agonizingly close to restoring Milan’s lead just seconds after the restart, only to be denied by a spectacular save from Yann Sommer.
The Swiss goalkeeper, a summer acquisition for Inter, proved to be a thorn in Milan’s side throughout the half. In the 65th minute, he produced another stunning save, this time diving low to his right to palm away a goal-bound effort from Tijjani Reijnders.
Yann kept us in the game,” Inter captain Lautaro Martínez admitted post-match. “On another day, with another keeper, we might have been three or four goals down.”
Just as it seemed the derby would end in a stalemate, AC Milan won a free-kick on the right flank in the 89th minute. As Tijjani Reijnders stepped up to take it, few eyes were on Matteo Gabbia, the 24-year-old defender who had been a peripheral figure for much of the match.
But as the ball arced into the penalty area, Gabbia rose highest, connecting with a thunderous header that flew past Sommer and into the net. The San Siro erupted, with the Milan players mobbing their unlikely hero as the Inter fans stood in stunned silence.
“I still can’t believe it,” Gabbia said, his voice hoarse from the celebrations. As a Milanese kid who grew up supporting this club, scoring the winning goal in the derby is beyond my wildest dreams. This is for every Milan fan who has suffered through our recent derby defeats.”
The victory pulls AC Milan out of their early-season slump and lifts them to joint-seventh in the Serie A table, level on points with Inter. More importantly, it provides a massive boost of confidence for new coach Paulo Fonseca, who had faced mounting pressure after Milan’s disappointing start to the campaign.
“This win is not just about the three points,” Fonseca emphasized in his post-match press conference. “It’s about belief. Belief in our system, belief in each other, and belief that we can compete with anyone in this league. The derby is always special, but winning it like this, it can be a catalyst for our entire season.”
For Inter Milan, the defeat is a bitter pill to swallow. It not only ends their run of six consecutive derby victories but also denies them the chance to claim top spot in Serie A. They now sit two points behind surprise leaders Torino, who have made an unexpectedly strong start to the season.
As the final whistle blew and the San Siro emptied into the Milan night, the reverberations of this classic derby were felt far beyond the city limits. AC Milan’s dramatic victory not only reignites their season but also adds another thrilling chapter to one of football’s greatest rivalries.
With both Milan giants showing they have the quality and fighting spirit to challenge for honors, this season’s Serie A title race promises to be one of the most exciting in recent memory. And for Matteo Gabbia, the local boy who dreamed of derby heroics, September 22, 2024, will forever be the night when those dreams became a glorious reality.
