Former Chelsea star Olivier Giroud stepped up as an unlikely hero for AC Milan after assuming the position of a goalkeeper in their recent Serie A showdown against Genoa.
This Saturday, the Frenchman was thrust into the unexpected role of goalkeeper, and his performance left fans stunned and others in cheers.
The crucial moment came when AC Milan’s main keeper, Mike Maignan, received a red card and was sent off the field.
This forced Giroud to don the goalkeeper gloves, despite his inexperience in the position. With the fate of the match hanging in the balance, he found himself in the spotlight.
Giroud displayed nerves of steel and an uncanny talent for goalkeeping. In a truly massive save, he preserved AC Milan’s 1-0 lead over Genoa.
The victory not only secured crucial points but also catapulted AC Milan to the top of the Serie A table.
How the whole drama kicked off.
Just when it seemed like Christian Pulisic had delivered the night’s excitement with a late goal, chaos ensued.
Maignan, AC Milan’s goalkeeper, was shown a red card for a foul on Caleb Ekuban during stoppage time. With all substitutions already used up, Giroud was pushed into the role of the last line of defense.
Albert Gudmundsson, from Genoa, then had a chance to level the score with a powerful free-kick from the edge of the box.
However, Giroud’s brilliance denied him as the ball thundered against the crossbar. In the final moments, Giroud displayed unexpected agility and determination, making a spectacular save to deny George Puscas.
The drama didn’t end there
At the other end, Genoa also faced their own setback as their goalkeeper, Josep Martinez, received a second yellow card for a late foul on Musah, resulting in his ejection.
In his own words, Giroud humbly expressed;
“I’ve never experienced that in my career, and I’m proud of the whole team. We fought like lions. The final stop? I made a great save at the end. Almost a goal. Calabria massacred my arm, but it’s okay… I’m going to frame this shirt.”
This astonishing showdown in Serie A not only thrilled a lot of fans but also propelled AC Milan to a two-point lead at the summit of the league table.
This sudden rise to the top came after rivals Inter Milan squandered a two-goal lead, settling for a 2-2 draw at home against Bologna on the same day.
Following the save from last night, AC Milan has added Olivier Giroud to their list of goalkeepers on their official website.
Recall that he holds the French national team’s all-time scoring record.
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