Feyenoord knocked AC Milan out of the Champions League as they recovered to draw 1-1 with a goal by Julian Carranza on Tuesday for a 2-1 aggregate placayoff win to earn a place in the Champions League last 16, with the hosts having Theo Hernandez sent off.
Milan took less than a minute to level the tie on aggregate when Santiago Gimenez scored against his former club but the red card for Hernandez changed the game and Carranza netted a superb header in the 73rd to take the Dutch side through.
Feyenoord will meet either Inter Milan or Arsenal in the last 16, with their opponents to be decided in Friday’s draw.
Milan went on the attack from the start. Gimenez won a corner in the opening seconds, gesturing to the home fans behind the goal to make more noise, and shortly afterwards the Mexican gave them plenty of reason to do just that.
From a short corner move, Christian Pulisic floated a pass towards the far post where Malick Thiaw placed a header back across goal and Gimenez nodded the ball over the line.
Gimenez, who only joined Milan from Feyenoord two weeks ago, looked almost apologetic but the San Siro crowd more than made up for his lack of celebration.
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Milan looked the more likely to take the overall lead before the break, with Gimenez playing in Joao Felix who put his effort over the bar.
Feyenoord goalkeeper Timon Wellenreuther parried away another Felix shot and Hernandez could only hit the rebound into the side netting, while the visitors failed to get a shot on target in the opening half.
Kyle Walker tried his luck from just inside the area after the break but Wellenreuther got down to save as Milan continued to press for a second goal.
Feyenoord’s chances received a massive boost six minutes into the second half, however, when Hernandez picked up a second booking for simulation, but the visitors continued to struggle to create any real opportunities.
Antoni Milambo sent a shot and then a header over the bar, but Feyenoord finally found the net with their first effort on target.
Hugo Bueno floated a delightful ball to the far post from outside the area and substitute Carranza rose unchallenged to power his header over keeper Mike Maignan.
Milan pushed desperately for a goal to take the tie to extra time, with Thiaw getting a powerful header on target but the keeper was well positioned to smother the ball and Feyenoord held on under late pressure.
Feyenoord defender Givairo Reed was shown a red card after the final whistle as tempers flared at the San Siro, which was the scene of the biggest-ever result in the club’s history.
In 1970, Feyenoord won the European Cup by beating Celtic after extra time at the stadium, having downed Milan 2-1 on aggregate in the second round and perhaps it will start to believe in a little Dutch destiny after its latest upset.
