Serie A: Cagliari 3-3 Milan - Zappa's Late Volley Secures Dramatic Draw

Milan Drops Points in Thrilling 3-3 Draw with Cagliari

Milan temporarily regained the lead through substitute Tammy Abraham...

Milan settles for 3-3 tie despite Rafael Leao's brace and Tammy Abraham's goal.

AC Milan's Rafael Leao scored a brace, but Cagliari's Gabriele Zappa stole the show with a dramatic late equalizer, securing a thrilling 3-3 draw.

Fresh from their stunning 3-1 Champions League victory over Real Madrid, Milan faced Cagliari with a depleted squad. Alvaro Morata's accidental clash with Strahinja Pavlovic in training added to the injury list, which already included Luka Jovic, Ismael Bennacer, Matteo Gabbia, and Alessandro Florenzi.

With Tammy Abraham not at full strength, 16-year-old Francesco Camarda made his Serie A debut. Cagliari, meanwhile, had Michel Adopo and Yerry Mina suspended following their chaotic defeat to Lazio, but surprisingly started Albania international Alen Sherri in goal.

Cagliari struck early, with Nadir Zortea scoring from a tight angle after Sebastiano Luperto flicked on Nicolas Viola's corner.

Rafael Leao narrowly missed the target, but soon equalized with a stunning goal. Tijjani Reijnders' clever pass sprang the offside trap, allowing Leao to lob the onrushing Sherri.

Cagliari pushed for an equalizer, with Luperto's header from a corner being denied by Mike Maignan, while Roberto Piccoli's impressive skill past the goalkeeper was nullified by a narrow offside call.

Maignan made another crucial save, plucking Tommaso Augello's cross from the air to deny Zortea's header.

However, Milan swiftly turned the tide. Youssouf Fofana's through ball released Rafael Leao, who dribbled around Sherri and scored his 50th Serie A goal.

Leao's strike marked his first brace since June 2023.

Moments later, Piccoli attempted to level, holding off Malick Thiaw, but Maignan rushed out to block.

Zito Luvumbo's header flashed across goal, narrowly missing Piccoli.

On the stroke of halftime, Cagliari equalized through Gabriele Zappa's volley at the back post, but Viola's sliding intervention was deemed offside.

The second half began with missed opportunities for both sides. Samu Chukwueze squandered a 12-yard chance from Francesco Camarda's pull-back, while Theo Hernandez blocked Nadir Zortea's ferocious volley.

Cagliari's Gabriele Zappa capitalized on Youssouf Fofana's defensive mistake, scoring his second Serie A goal with a one-on-one finish past Mike Maignan.

Camarda nearly scored but was denied by Alen Sherri, then made a crucial goal-line clearance to thwart Roberto Piccoli's effort from a Cagliari corner.

Substitute Tammy Abraham restored Milan's lead, tapping in the rebound after Sherri's one-handed save from Christian Pulisic's angled drive.

In a stunning twist, Zappa sealed his brace with a magnificent right-foot volley into the top corner from Tommaso Augello's cross, despite being left unmarked at the back post.

Zappa's incredible performance earned him a second goal, leaving Cagliari level with Milan.

Tammy Abraham reinstated Milan's lead, capitalizing on the rebound after Alen Sherri's impressive one-handed save from Christian Pulisic's angled shot.

However, Gabriele Zappa sealed his brace with a stunning right-foot volley into the top corner from Tommaso Augello's cross, despite being gifted ample space at the back post.

Milan temporarily regained the lead through substitute Tammy Abraham, who pounced on the rebound following Sherri's save from Pulisic.

Zappa then secured his second goal with a magnificent volley, exploiting lax marking at the back post to level the score.

Abraham's goal was cancelled out by Zappa's late equalizer, a brilliant volley into the top corner from Augello's delivery.