Ajax thought Stefano Denswil had delivered them a 90th minute match-winner, but in the end, it was only good enough for one point thanks to Mario Balotelli and the referee. A terribly awarded penalty three minutes into stoppage time proved to be a lifeline for AC Milan, and they took it, converting the spot kick to earn a 1-1 draw in Amsterdam.
Ajax vs. AC Milan: Final score 1-1, Controversial penalty earns visitors a point
AC Milan walked away with an undeserved point thanks to some help from the referee.
Dean Mouhtaropoulos
The AC Milan Offside
There was hardly any action to speak of for much of the match as Ajax possessed the ball, but failed to generate truly dangerous chances. Milan weren’t much better when they got the ball and it would be tough to fault anyone at the stadium for falling asleep the match was so dull.
It looks like the two sides would settle for a scoreless draw until the waning minutes, when both sides picked up their play and it was Ajax who first converted. Denswil soared high above the Milan defense on a corner kick and nodded home a 90th minute tally. The Amsterdam Arena exploded and it looked as if the home side was on their way to three points.
But Balotelli turned that all around three minutes later.The striker ran straight down the middle, but it looked unlikely that he would be able to get free to knock home an equalizer so he grabbed Mike van der Hoorn and went to the ground with the Ajax defender. The referee blew his whistle, presumably to call a foul on Balotelli, but instead he inexplicably pointed to the spot. He had bailed Milan out, and Balotelli ensured that the gift would not go for naught, striking the penalty past Jasper Cillessen to rescue an undeserved point for the visitors.
Ajax: Cillessen, van Rhijn, Moisander (van der Hoom 78’), Blind, Denswil, Poulsen, Duarte (Schone 59’), de Jong, Fischer, Sigthorsson, De Sa (Andersen 64’)
Goals: Stefano Denswil 90’
AC Milan: Abbiati, Mexes, Zapata, Abate, Constant, Muntari, Poli (Emanuelson 84’), de Jong, Robinho (Matri 80’), Montolivo, Balotelli
Goals: Balotelli 90+3’
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