In the final moments, AC Milan solidifies second place in Serie A

AC Milan had to wait until the final moments to defeat Cremonese 2-0, solidifying their hold on second place in the Serie A table after 27 matches.

In a match where the Rossoneri attackers repeatedly squandered opportunities, late brilliance from Strahinja Pavlovic and Rafael Leao helped the team secure all three points.

Entering the match, Milan suffered significant squad setbacks with Ruben Loftus-Cheek out long-term due to injury, while Matteo Gabbia and Santiago Gimenez were also absent. However, facing a struggling Cremonese side with only 3 goals in their last 12 matches, manager Max Allegri's team was still heavily favored.

The on-field reality showed Milan in complete control of the match. Early on, Rafael Leao had a golden opportunity from a favorable cross but was denied by Francesco Folino. Alexis Saelemaekers later tried his luck with a long-range shot that missed the post. However, the attacking line's wastefulness continued to haunt the visitors.

In the 34th minute, Leao broke through one-on-one with goalkeeper Emil Audero after a clever through ball from Youssouf Fofana. A goal seemed certain as Audero rushed out, but the Portuguese forward shot wide of the nearly open net. Christian Pulisic also had a burst of speed to beat the offside trap, but this time Audero managed a fingertip save.

On the other side, Cremonese did not surrender completely. Federico Bonazzoli and Jamie Vardy both had attempts that forced Mike Maignan to stay alert. However, Milan's defense, anchored by the solid Fikayo Tomori, held firm.

Time ticked towards the end of the match, and pressure began to mount on Milan. In this context, the turning point arrived in the 90th minute. From a short corner routine, Luka Modric delivered a cross into the box. Koni De Winter's header deflected off the face and shoulder of Strahinja Pavlovic and into the net, stunning the Cremonese defense. A somewhat "unlikely" goal, but one that was crucial in breaking the deadlock.

With the lead secured, Milan exploited the space as Cremonese pushed forward for an equalizer. In the 94th minute, on a quick counter-attack, the ball was played through for Christopher Nkunku to sprint from midfield before he squared it perfectly for Leao to finish from close range, sealing the 2-0 victory. This goal somewhat redeemed Leao after his series of earlier missed chances.

The hard-fought, late victory deservedly helps AC Milan solidify their firm hold on second place in the standings with 57 points after 27 matches, maintaining pressure on league leaders Inter.