AC Milan struck twice in stoppage time through Strahinja Pavlovic and Rafael Leão to secure a 2-1 victory over Cremonese

AC Milan secured a vital 2-0 victory over a struggling Cremonese side thanks to a pair of dramatic goals in the final minutes of the match. 

Persistence pays off! 👊

Brought to you by @Bitpanda_global pic.twitter.com/ofNVgn0G9t

— AC Milan (@acmilan) March 1, 2026

Coming off a disappointing loss to Parma, Massimiliano Allegri’s men knew they couldn’t afford another slip-up, especially with league leaders Inter Milan sitting 13 points clear. The win provides a much-needed morale boost just one week before the Milan derby.

The hosts, despite their poor form, looked ready to repeat their shock victory from August. Federico Bonazzoli, who scored the winner in that reverse fixture, nearly haunted AC Milan again when he connected with a whipped cross from Giuseppe Pezzella. His first-time effort whistled agonizingly wide of the post, serving as a loud wake-up call for a Milan defense that appeared a bit sluggish in the opening exchanges.

Milan’s star man, Rafael Leão, had a statistically nightmare afternoon for the majority of the game. Shortly after the Bonazzoli scare, Leão found himself in a glorious one-on-one situation with the keeper. In a moment that stunned the traveling fans, he dragged his shot wide when it seemed much easier to simply roll the ball into the corner. It was the first sign of a recurring theme of missed opportunities that would plague the winger until the final whistle.

As the first half drew to a close, Cremonese goalkeeper Emil Audero emerged as the hero for the home side. He produced two smart, reactive saves to deny Christian Pulisic and Fofana right on the stroke of halftime. 

Thanks to Audero’s heroics, the score stayed level, leaving the AC Milan players heading into the tunnel looking visibly frustrated by their inability to find a clinical edge in the final third.

The second half offered more of the same, with Leão continuing to struggle in front of goal. After a perfect squared pass from Adrien Rabiot, the Portuguese international somehow lifted a close-range effort over the bar. Moments later, he showed his trademark pace to burst through the heart of the Cremonese defense, only to deliver a tame shot straight into Audero’s hands. At that point, it felt like one of those days where the ball simply wouldn’t go in.

Just as the match entered the 90th minute and hopes of a win were fading, the breakthrough finally arrived. Following a short corner routine, veteran Luka Modric whipped in an inviting cross that was flicked on by Koni De Winter. Pavlovic was the quickest to react, diverting the ball into the net to send the away bench into a frenzy. It was a scrappy goal, but for a side chasing a title, it was worth its weight in gold.

With Cremonese pushing forward in desperation, AC Milan exploited the open space to put the game to bed. Christopher Nkunku broke away and squared the ball to Leão, who finally found his composure to stroke the ball into an empty net. 

The goal sealed Milan’s first head-to-head win against Cremonese in 30 years and extended the hosts’ winless run to 13 matches. Allegri’s side can now turn their full attention to the Derby della Madonnina with their top-four spot firmly cemented.