A late Tammy Abraham goal earned AC Milan a thrilling 2-1 Champions League win over Red Star Belgrade at the San Siro on Wednesday (Dec 11) to make it four wins in a row for the Italian side. Abraham's 87th-minute winner was a cruel blow to the Serbian visitors, who came back from a goal down and were pushing for a well-deserved winner when the Englishman struck to lift Milan up to 12th spot on 12 points. Red Star are 31st with three points.
Tammy Abraham scored a late winner as AC Milan overcame a dogged Red Star Belgrade at San Siro. Rafael Leao's opener and sixth goal of the season – a ruthless finish that followed a beautiful first touch – was somewhat overshadowed by injuries suffered by the Italian side in the opening stages.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek, brought into the side in place of the injured Christian Pulisic, and Alvaro Morata were both forced off in the first half and replaced by Samuel Chukwueze and Abraham respectively.
Leao forced Ivan Gutesa into a smart stop before Abraham sent a header narrowly wide with his first touch of the night.
Red Star started to ask questions of the Milan back-line without seriously threatening Mike Maignan's goal, but that seemed to prompt Leao into action.
After perfectly timing a run in behind the Red Star defence, the Portugal attacker controlled Youssouf Fofana's long diagonal ball before lifting his shot past Gutesa at his near post.
Substitute Abraham looked certain to double Milan's lead shortly after half-time but Nasser Djiga somehow managed to block his close-range effort while sat on the turf.
Red Star continued to press Milan and their persistence was rewarded when Nemanja Radonjic robbed Yunus Musah of possession before unleashing an unstoppable strike past Maignan from the edge of the box.
However, just as it looked like Milan fans would leave San Siro frustrated, Abraham forced the ball over the line with three minutes left after Gutesa made a miraculous save to tip Francesco Camarda's header onto the crossbar.
Victory leaves Milan 12th in the standings with 12 points, all but securing their place in the Champions League knockouts.
It's the first time since 2004-05 – when they reached the final – that Milan have won four consecutive Champions League games.
Red Star's hopes of reaching the knockout play-off round are all but over.
