APIA score historic draw with AC Milan

Participating in their 13th Viareggio Cup, APIA Leichhardt Tigers had a deadly draw in the prestigious u19 International tournament facing Palermo, PSV Einhoven and AC Milan. 
After two toughly fought games where APIA was on the losing end of the performance, they lined up to face AC MIlan, the current Primavera Italian and 2014 Viareggio champions.
In front of a strong capacity crowd, the locals came out in force and huge with numbers to witness a flurry of goals and a goal feast for AC Milan, of course. The APIA team looked pumped, prepared, and up for the challenge.
Right from the kick-off you could see that APIA was up for it, AC Milan didn’t have any clear chances to score. APIA was under enormous pressure on every attack however the boys simply were unbeatable.
They closed space, they squeezed, kept shape and structure, they were strong on the ball, valued possession, played as a united team and fought for each other.
AC Milan in the first half looked to create 2 v 1 scenarios out wide, trying to expose our full backs. Mari on the left and McCarron on the right did an amazing job.
In the 22nd APIA took the lead, Adattini with a free kick from half way, float long ball into the box. The Milan keeper was off his line and misjudged the clearance, the ball looped over his head into the net. The entire team celebrated jubilantly.
APIA did everything in their power to hold on and not concede. Cox, Cooke and Barnett were possessed, they didn’t stop running all game.
The second half started and AC Milan came out firing.  Their coach blew his players up at half time, saying "If you don’t want to be here get on the bus now and if you don’t win you should be ashamed of yourself”
Again, wave after wave of attacks by AC Milan, APIA kept to their job minimising any potential threats from Milan to score.
Unfortunately APIA could only hold out for 11 minutes in the second half when a free kick was delivered just off the penalty spot and was headed in by Rondanini past a helpless Tuxford.
AC Milan now looking for a goal piled on the pressure, with 15 minutes to go they had 8 or 9 half chances.
Tuxford, kept APIA in the game with three point blank saves, Milan doing everything to get the ball in the box or within striking range. Coach Cummins made a few subs also to keep the team lively. Rinaldi for Cortese (60th min), Colaianni for Rydzewski (80th Min), Agostino for Rinaldi (90th Min)
Coach Danial Cummins was proud of his chargers.
“The boys prepared themselves mentally and physically, I had nothing to do with the result; it was all the players themselves.  They wanted it badly, they were determined – I am personally proud to have had the opportunity to have been associated with the squad.
“It was the players themselves and nobody but the players that delivered this memorable result for the club, which will be spoken about for many years to come”
Club president Tony Raciti echoed Cummins’ statement.
“Simply unbelievable, magnificent. Tomorrow morning 62 million Italians will be shocked with this result. The Italian football world will be talking about it.
“How times have changed. In our first 5 to 6 years participation in the tournament we struggled to get past the half way mark in matches. In some matches in the entire 90 minutes we never once entered into our opponents’ penalty area.
“Look how far Australian football has come. I am proud, we as a club are proud, I am simply lost for words. This incredible performance has enhanced Apia’s participation annually in this tournament."
-APIA Leichhardt Tigers Press Release