Hajduk Split beats AC Milan to reach Youth Champions League Final
- by croatiaweek
- in Sport
Hajduk Split has beaten AC Milan to reach final of the UEFA Youth League
GENEVA, 21 April 2023 – Hajduk Split has beaten AC Milan in convincing fashion 3-1 to reach the final of the UEFA Youth League.
Hajduk Split, led by coach Marijan Budimir, started the match in similar form to what saw them reach the final four of the pinnacle youth competition.
The Croatians were compact in defence and would carve out a couple of encouraging half-chances in the first half which would end goalless.
Around 8,000 Hajduk Split fans made the trip to Stade de Genève in Geneva and in the 55th minute they had the chance to celebrate when Brajković beat his defender down the right and squared a perfect ball across the face of the goal where Jere Vrcić was on hand to drill the ball into the back of the net from a tight angle.
JERE VRCIĆ 🇭🇷(2004) FIRES HAJDUK SPLIT U19 INTO THE LEAD!!!
— Football Report (@FootballReprt) April 21, 2023
ROKO BRAJKOVIĆ 🇭🇷(2005) WITH THE SPECTACULAR PLAY FOR THE ASSIST!!!! THE CROWD GOES WILD!!!#MilanPrimavera #HAJACM #UYL #Hajduk pic.twitter.com/BJs9dWCnwS
The goal was the first which Milan had conceded in the knockout stages and it forced them into attack.
They would have a number of good chances to equalise, but Hajduk’s defence and in particular, keeper Borna Buljan, would deny them.
In the 69th minute, Hajduk would double the lead when Roko Pukštas rose highest to meet a corner and head the ball into the back of the net to make it 2-0.
ROKAS PUKŠTAS 🇺🇸🇱🇹(2004) DOUBLES THE LEAD WITH A MAGNIFICENT HEADER!!! #USMNT
— Football Report (@FootballReprt) April 21, 2023
ROKO BRAJKOVIĆ 🇭🇷(2005) WITH THE CORNER-KICK DELIVERY FOR THE ASSIST!!!#MilanPrimavera #HAJACM #UYL #Hajduk pic.twitter.com/KMU4a9OYV2
The Italians tried to get back into the match but Hajduk would get a third in the 76th minute when Šimun Hrgović stole the ball from the Milan defence in their box and nudge it past the Milan keeper to make it 3-0.
AC Milan did pull one back in the 84th minute but Hajduk would hang on for an historic victory as they become the first Croatian club to reach the final of the Youth Champions League.
Hajduk, who beat Manchester City in the round of 16, Borussia Dortmund in the quarter-finals and now AC Milan in the semi-finals, will face AZ from the Netherlands in the final.
That match will take place on Monday, 24 April in Nyon.
