Milan, Feb 19: Seldom has a player’s sending off had such an influence on a game.
AC Milan was to left rue Theo Hernandez’s second yellow card – for diving – as Feyenoord advanced to the Champions League last 16 at the former European champion’s expense with a 1-1 draw in the second leg of their playoff on Tuesday, giving the Dutch team a 2-1 win on aggregate.
Bayern Munich, Club Brugge and Benfica also won their playoffs, eliminating Celtic, Europa League winner Atalanta, and French team Monaco, respectively.
“In soccer everything changes in a second,” said Milan forward Santiago Giménez, who scored one of the competition’s fastest goals against his former team, Feyenoord, in the first minute.
Hernandez was sent off for a dive in the 51st when Milan was dominating after Giménez’s opener had leveled the tie. Feyenoord had won the first leg of the playoff 1-0 last week.
But Milan’s defense looked anything but assured after referee Szymon Marciniak showed Hernandez another yellow card for his dive. The France defender had earned his first before the break for lashing out at a Feyenoord player after a foul on teammate João Félix.
Hugo Bueno crossed for Julián Carranza to head Feyenoord level on the night in the 73rd, enough to put the Dutch team into the next phase.
“We’re very disappointed. We started well and scored straight away. It seemed like Feyenoord couldn’t hurt us,” Giménez said of the game’s pivotal moment. “Today it happened to Theo but it can happen to anyone, this is soccer. We have the utmost respect for Theo. We will give him all our support.” Feyenoord’s Givairo Read was shown a red card following another melee after the final whistle.
Feyenoord will play either Inter Milan or Arsenal in the round of 16.
Davies to Bayern’s rescue
Alphonso Davies scored in the fourth minute of stoppage time for Bayern to reach the last 16 with a 1-1 draw against Celtic.
Davies, a substitute, bundled the ball over the line after Leon Goretzka’s effort was kept out, saving Bayern the ordeal of extra time after German player Nicolas Kühn had scored against his former club to draw Celtic level on aggregate.
Davies’ goal gave Bayern a 3-2 win over two legs
Next for the Bavarian powerhouse is either Bundesliga rival Bayer Leverkusen or Atlético Madrid.
Atalanta’s efforts in vain
Club Brugge eliminated Atalanta with a 3-1 win in Bergamo for a 5-2 win on aggregate. The 19-year-old forward Chemsdine Talbi scored twice as the visitors gave Gian Piero Gasperini’s team a lesson in efficiency.
Atalanta had 29 efforts at goal, compared to seven from the visitors, and tried 89 attacks compared to 16 from Brugge.
Halftime substitute Ademola Lookman scored seconds after the restart to unleash hopes of a miracle – Atalanta just needed three more goals to level the tie – but Simon Mignolet saved Lookman’s penalty in the 61st as those hopes gradually faded.
Benfica reached the last 16 with a 3-3 draw against Monaco in Lisbon, giving the Portuguese team a 4-3 win on aggregate.
The last 16 draw takes place on Friday.
Milan’s exit from the Champions League playoffs will undoubtedly leave a bitter taste, particularly given the manner in which it unfolded. Theo Hernandez’s dismissal proved to be the turning point in a tie that had seemed within Milan’s grasp, highlighting once again how fragile momentum can be in knockout football.
While the Rossoneri will look back with frustration, credit must go to Feyenoord, who capitalized on their numerical advantage and showed the resilience required to navigate a high-pressure European night. Meanwhile, Bayern Munich, Club Brugge, and Benfica all secured their passage to the last 16 in dramatic fashion, setting up intriguing matchups in the next round.
With European heavyweights like Inter Milan, Arsenal, Bayer Leverkusen, and Atlético Madrid waiting in the wings, the stage is now set for an exhilarating next phase of the tournament.
As the dust settles, Milan must regroup, learn from their missteps, and refocus on their domestic campaign, while the remaining contenders gear up for another round of high-stakes battles in pursuit of Champions League glory.
For Milan, this defeat serves as a harsh reminder of the fine margins that define European football. A moment of ill-discipline, a single lapse in judgment, and an entire campaign can unravel in an instant.
Despite showing promise in phases, Stefano Pioli’s side lacked the composure and clinical edge needed to navigate such a high-stakes encounter.
Hernandez’s sending-off not only disrupted their rhythm but also exposed the team’s vulnerability under pressure.
As Feyenoord march on, buoyed by their hard-fought victory, Milan are left to reflect on what could have been. (AP)
