Youth League: Real Madrid defeat Milan to qualify for the semi-finals

Real Madrid Castilla came from behind to beat AC Milan 4-2 at the Alfredo Di Stefano Stadium on Friday night, thus securing their place in the semi-finals of the UEFA Youth League.

Goals from Sergio Arribas, Miguel Gutierrez, Peter Federico and Bruno Iglesias canceled out strikes from Marko Lazetic and Antonio Gala for Milan who were made to pay for a sloppy start to the second half. The Whites will now face Altinordu in the last four on Monday.

Milan began the game brightly and could have taken the lead inside the opening five minutes, but Lazetic saw his low effort saved well by Luis Lopez.

Madrid was not to be denied, however, and they took the lead on the counter-attack in the 19th minute. Arribas collected a pass from Gutierrez before driving into the Milan penalty area and firing a low shot past Andreas Jungdal from 20 yards.

The advantage was to last just nine minutes, though, as Milan leveled the scores through Lazetic. The young Serbian forward was alert to a loose pass from Lucas Cañizares and seized upon the opportunity to round Lopez and tap home into an empty net.

Madrid began the second half strongly and swiftly restored their lead when Gutierrez headed home from close range following a fine cross from Arribas.

Milan refused to be beaten, however, and they once again drew level in the 60th minute. Gala converted a penalty after Cañizares was adjudged to have fouled Lazetic inside the box.

However, Milan’s joy was to be short-lived. Just three minutes later, Madrid grabbed a third goal when Federico produced a fine individual effort, skipping past two players before firing a low shot into the bottom corner. Iglesias then added a fourth in the closing stages to put the result beyond doubt, converting from close range after Milan failed to clear a cross from Arribas.