By Kehinde Okeowo
In the first group B match of the UEFA Champions League 2021/2022 season, played at the Anfield stadium in Liverpool, England, English club, Liverpool FC, defeated their Italian counterparts, AC Milan 3-2 to begin their campaign on a positive note.
Liverpool was gifted the first goal of the match on the ninth minute through an own goal scored by Nigerian born English defender, Fikayo Tomori.
Thereafter, Liverpool striker, Mohammed Salah, missed a penalty five minutes later, when AC Milan’s goalkeeper, Mike Maigan, saved his spot kick.
Ante Rebic equalized on the 42nd minute for AC Milan after an assist from Rafael Leah, to level the game at 1-1.
The Italian club doubled it’s tally two minutes later when Brahim Diaz, scored the second goal on the 44 minute to take the lead.
Despite Liverpool’s dominance, they were unable to score until 49 minutes in the second half, when Egyptian striker , Mohammed Salah, who missed a spot kick earlier, scored Liverpool’s second goal to level the match.
Liverpool captain, Jordan Henderson put his side ahead after scoring the third goal on the 69 minute for a deserved lead.
AC Milan made frantic efforts to level the score, but the game ended 3-2 in favour of the host.
A total of three yellow cards were issued by the referee, Szymon Marciniak, before bringing proceedings to a close.
Two went to AC Milan, while one was awarded to Liverpool FC.
The second game in the group played in Madrid, Spain, between Athletico Madrid and FC Porto of Portugal, ended in a barren draw.
Liverpool currently tops the group with three points, with Athletico Madrid and FC Porto coming second and third respectively, with one point each.
AC Milan is at the bottom of the group without a point.
OTHER UCL RESULTS:
GROUP A
Club Bruges 1 vs PSG 1
Man City 6 vs RB Leipzig 3
GROUP B
Atl Madrid 0 vs FC Porto 0
GROUP C
Besiktas 1 vs B Dortmund 2
Sporting CP 1 vs Ajax 5
GROUP D
FC Sheriff 2 vs Shakhtar Donetsk 0
Inter Milan 0 vs Real Madrid 1