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Serie A giants AC Milan have included French striker Oliver Giroud into their list of goalkeepers after he played in goal and made a key save against Genoa on Saturday
AC Milan have included French striker Oliver Giroud into their list of goalkeepers following Saturday night’s heroics in goal when he made a key save after coming on following Mike Maignan’s late sending-off.
Grioud, France’s record scorer, who has scored numerous goals and decided important matches across Italy and Europe, slotted in goal as a makeshift goalkeeper when countryman Maignan was sent off during Milan’s Serie A encounter against Genoa on Saturday.
He left his mark on what was truly special and and probably unrepeatable match as out the 39 minutes he played at the Marassi (including 15 stoppage-time minutes), he spent the final eight between the sticks and had an unforgettable experience.
Milan took the lead in the 87th minute thanks to a goal from Christian Pulisic but as the Rossoneri were playing down the clock, goalkeeper Maignan found himself in hot water after catching Caleb Ekuban with his knee.
Maignan's challenge was sent to VAR review with the decision being made that his tackle was deemed to be serious foul play, meaning that he was sent off.
That followed a frantic eight minutes for Milan as Giroud slotted in goal after Stefano Pioli had used all his substitutes by the time Maignan was receiving his marching orders.
Genoa were pushing forward for an equaliser when a ball was played over the top of the Milan defence and into the path of the attacker like a seasoned goalkeeper.
The drama wasn't finished yet though, with Genoa's goalkeeper also being sent off in the 103rd minute after going up for a corner and catching Fikayo Tomori with a wild lunge.
Thankfully for Giroud, his stop was enough to earn a victory for Milan, preserving their spot at the top of Serie A going into the international break.
Following the heroics, Milan have switched Giroud from the strikers into the goalkeepers’ corner on their website with reports in Italy saying the club have officially announced that it will be possible to buy the goalkeeper jerseys with the printing ‘Giroud 9’.
Some fans saw the fun side of the move, claiming the French striker has now shown that he is a better goalkeeper than Andre Onana, who is enduring a poor start to his Manchester United career, following a number of howlers this season.
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