AC Milan 0-2 Ferencváros. Lenny Joseph scored twice in fourteen second-half minutes, both goals created by Kristoffer Zachariassen, as the Hungarian champions won at San Siro to make it four wins from four in the Europa League league phase and leave Milan stuck on three points from four games.
Milan had the ball for long spells — the possession count finished at 70 per cent in their favour — but possession was all they had. Ferencváros defended their box with discipline, broke with speed and carried the sharper threat all evening, and when the chances came after half-time, Joseph took them both. The full timeline is on theScore's match page, and the game is a brutal contrast with the derby high Milan enjoyed at the weekend, when they beat Inter 3-1 at this same stadium.
Joseph punishes Milan twice after the break
The first half ended goalless, but it was not comfortable for the hosts. Lorenzo Torriani, deputising in goal for the suspended Mike Maignan, had to make an early save after sloppy play in midfield, and Ferencváros grew in confidence the longer the game stayed level. Milan responded with a triple change at half-time, sending on Christian Pulisic, Mario Gila and Diego Moreira, yet within seven minutes of the restart they were behind.
The opener, on 52 minutes, was a defensive nightmare. A back-pass inside Milan's own box went wrong, the ball was intercepted, and Joseph was left with the simplest of finishes. Fourteen minutes later Zachariassen set him up again, and Joseph made it 2-0 with his second of the night. The Norwegian finished the match with two assists, having already been Ferencváros's top scorer in this competition before kick-off.
Yusuf sees red, but Milan still cannot respond
There was still drama to come. Joseph's replacement, Bamidele Yusuf, had been on the pitch for only ten minutes when he was shown a straight red card on 77 minutes, after a VAR review spotted an elbow into the face of Gila off the ball — Football Italia's liveblog recorded the dismissal as it happened. Even with a man advantage for the closing stages, Milan could not find a way through, and the visitors saw out a famous win.
So what does this mean for Milan and Ferencváros?
For Ferencváros, this is a statement result. Four games, four wins, twelve points and a place at the top end of the league-phase table: automatic qualification for the last 16 is now theirs to lose, and a Hungarian side winning at San Siro will resonate far beyond this competition. Zachariassen and Joseph have become one of the most productive partnerships in the tournament.
For Milan, the numbers are stark. One win and three defeats from four games leaves Ruben Amorim's side on three points and deep in the play-off scramble, with their European campaign now a problem that cannot be ignored. The derby win showed what this team can do; this showed how far they still are from doing it consistently, especially in Europe, where they have already lost 3-0 to Bournemouth. Pulisic's return to fitness is at least a positive — the American recently signed a new Milan contract running to 2031 — but contracts do not win European away days, and Milan are running out of margin for error.
Beyond the Final Whistle: Ferencváros did not steal this — they out-planned, out-ran and out-finished Milan at San Siro, and four wins from four says this is no fluke. Milan, meanwhile, are a domestic derby win papering over a European crisis. Can Amorim's side still rescue this league phase, or is the play-off round the best they can hope for now? Have your say in the comments.
