Sports
AC Milan Pull Off Thrilling Injury-Time Comeback To Beat Parma 3-2
AC Milan staged a remarkable comeback at the San Siro on Sunday, defeating Parma 3-2 in a thrilling Serie A encounter that kept fans on the edge of their seats until the final whistle.
Trailing twice in the match, the Rossoneri produced two injury-time goals from Tijjani Reijnders and Samuel Chukwueze, sealing a historic win and further strengthening their position as title contenders.
Parma took the lead in the 24th minute, with Matteo Cancellieri finishing off a precise assist from Valeri to stun the home crowd.
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Milan struggled to break down Parma’s defense but found their equalizer in the 38th minute after a foul on Pavlović in the box resulted in a penalty.
Christian Pulisic stepped up and calmly converted, leveling the score at 1-1.
The visitors regained the lead in the 80th minute when Enrico Delprato capitalized on a swift counterattack to put Parma 2-1 ahead.
With time running out, it seemed as though Milan might fall short, but the team refused to back down.
In the 90+2 minute, Reijnders scored a vital equalizer, driving home a well-placed pass from Musah.
Just three minutes later, Chukwueze completed the turnaround, striking a clinical winner from Pavlović’s assist in the 90+5th minute, sending the San Siro into raptures.
“This match was a testament to the character of this team,” said AC Milan coach Conceição. “We kept pushing, kept believing, and in the end, we were rewarded.”
The victory not only moved AC Milan to 34 points, consolidating their spot among Serie A’s top teams, but also highlighted their potential as serious title contenders.
Reijnders, the league’s leading central midfield goalscorer, now has six goals this season.
Chukwueze’s decisive goal marked his first of the season, while Pulisic ended a nine-game goal drought with his successful penalty.
The match also featured a milestone for Tammy Abraham, who made his 100th Serie A appearance.
Atalanta will be without Nigerian forward, Ademola Lookman for their crucial Champions League clash against Barcelona on Wednesday after the 27-year-old sustained a knee injury in training.
The Serie A club confirmed the news on Tuesday, revealing that Lookman had injured the lateral joint in his right knee and would not be traveling with the team to Spain.
Atalanta did not specify the exact length of Lookman’s absence, but reports from Italian media suggest he could be sidelined for up to a month.
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His absence comes as a significant blow to the team, as Lookman has been a key player this season, scoring 14 goals and providing six assists in all competitions.
Lookman was also instrumental in Atalanta’s Europa League success last season, netting a hat-trick in the final against Bayer Leverkusen.
His form has helped Atalanta remain competitive both domestically and in Europe, with the club still in the Serie A title race and aiming for direct qualification to the Champions League last 16.
Currently sitting in seventh place in the Champions League’s 36-club league phase, Atalanta faces a must-win situation against Barcelona, who have already secured their place in the knockout stages.
With a tight race for qualification, any result other than a victory will likely see Atalanta forced into a play-off spot.
The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) draw held in Rabat, Morocco, on Monday, has set the stage for an exciting football spectacle.
The tournament, scheduled to kick off on December 21, will see 24 teams battle for continental glory, with intriguing matchups promising thrilling action.
Morocco, the tournament hosts and one of Africa’s strongest teams, will begin their quest for the title against Comoros in Group A.
They are joined by Mali and Zambia, completing a group filled with potential surprises.
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Morocco, armed with Europe-based stars like Achraf Hakimi, will aim to become only the fourth AFCON host to win the title this century, following Tunisia (2004), Egypt (2006), and Ivory Coast (2024).
CAF president Patrick Motsepe expressed optimism about the tournament, calling it the “most successful AFCON yet.”
He praised Morocco’s preparations and highlighted the significance of hosting the AFCON as a stepping stone for the kingdom’s 2030 World Cup ambitions, which it will co-host with Spain and Portugal.
Originally planned for mid-2025, the tournament was rescheduled to avoid clashing with FIFA’s revamped Club World Cup in the United States.
Despite the change, excitement remains high as Africa’s best footballers converge on Morocco to vie for the continent’s top prize.
Group Stage Draw:
Group A: Morocco, Mali, Zambia, Comoros
Group B: Egypt, South Africa, Angola, Zimbabwe
Group C: Nigeria, Tunisia, Uganda, Tanzania
Group D: Senegal, DR Congo, Benin, Botswana
Group E: Algeria, Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea, Sudan
Group F: Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Gabon, Mozambique
Former Belgian international footballer, Radja Nainggolan was arrested on Monday in connection with a large-scale investigation into cocaine trafficking through the port of Antwerp, the Brussels prosecutor’s office has confirmed.
The arrest followed a series of raids conducted across Belgium in the early hours of the morning. Several suspects were detained, including Nainggolan, as part of the operation.
“The investigation concerns alleged facts of importation of cocaine from South America to Europe, via the port of Antwerp, and its redistribution in Belgium,” prosecutors said in a statement.
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Further details regarding the case have not yet been made public.
Nainggolan, 36, who was born in Antwerp, recently came out of retirement to join Belgian second-division club Lokeren. The midfielder made his debut over the weekend, scoring a goal in a 1-1 draw against K. Lierse.
The former national team star enjoyed a decorated career, earning 30 caps and scoring six goals for Belgium. He also played for top Italian clubs, including Roma, Inter Milan, and Cagliari, before returning to Belgium in 2021 to join Royal Antwerp. However, his stint there ended in early 2023, following a series of controversies.
Known for his brash personality and off-field incidents, Nainggolan was suspended in late 2022 after being caught smoking an electronic cigarette on the bench, according to Belgian media.
No timeline has been given for further proceedings.
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