Serie A: Santiago Gimenez's Late Strike Secures AC Milan's 1-0 Victory Over Verona

AC Milan's 1-0 win over Verona, courtesy of Santiago Gimenez's late strike, keeps their European hopes alive in Serie A.

AC Milan secured a crucial 1-0 victory over Verona in Serie A, thanks to Santiago Gimenez's decisive second-half strike. This win marked Milan's second consecutive victory in the league, a feat they had not achieved since September. The Rossoneri's triumph propelled them closer to the European places, having started the match four points adrift of the top six.

The encounter began cautiously, with Verona edging the opening 20 minutes. Tijjani Reijnders unleashed a low, long-range strike that forced Lorenzo Montipo into a smart save at the near post. As the first half progressed, clear-cut opportunities remained scarce. Santiago Gimenez did find the net with a clinical finish, but his effort was ruled out by the linesman's flag, denying Milan the opening goal.

The first half ended in frustration for AC Milan, who squandered a golden opportunity to take the lead on the stroke of halftime. Yunus Musah received an excellent cut-back from Santiago Gimenez, but the American midfielder blasted his shot wastefully over the bar from 12 yards. This missed chance capped off a disappointing opening 45 minutes for the Rossoneri.

Milan get the job done! 🔴⚫#MilanVerona pic.twitter.com/FwK2phI6X3

— Lega Serie A (@SerieA_EN) February 15, 2025

The second half began in a similar vein to the first, with both teams struggling to create quality chances in the final third. Verona coach Sergio Conceicao made a tactical switch at halftime, introducing Rafael Leao, who instantly became Milan's most potent threat. Leao saw a deflected effort narrowly miss the far post, but his presence injected new life into Milan's attack.

As the match entered its final 20 minutes, Milan intensified their pursuit of a winner. The breakthrough arrived when Alejandro Jimenez's clever dinked pass released Leao in the box. The Portuguese forward cleverly prodded the ball beyond Lorenzo Montipo, allowing Santiago Gimenez to head into the empty net. This goal proved decisive, as Milan withstood late pressure from Verona to secure a 1-0 victory, their ninth consecutive win over the visitors.