Posted On Thursday, 1st August 2013
Kingsley Boateng scored the only goal of the game for AC Milan
Ghana hopeful Kingsley Boateng came off the substitute bench to score the lone goal that claimed victory for AC Milan in their Audi Cup third-placed play-off 1-0 win over São Paulo in Germany on Thursday evening.
With Ghana internationals Sulley Munatri and Kevin-Prince Boateng benched, the 19-year-old stole the show with a well-taken finish in the 52nd minute to register the only goal of the game for the Rossoneris.
Massimiliano Allegri’s men came close to scoring on a couple of occasions but were denied by the crossbar in a somewhat drab first half before Boateng told the Brazilians Milan are no worse off with a second string side.
Boateng garnered confidence to latch onto a long pass from the back, accelerated past his marker and prodded the ball home neatly past Denis – the São Paulo goalkeeper.
The youngster who has represented Italy as at various junior levels watched Milan’s 5-3 humiliation to Manchester City from the bench on Tuesday but he was given his time to shine by manager Allegri and he grabbed it repeating the display he showed during his last pre-season with Milan in Sweden.
After showing much prospect last season during pre-season, he failed to make a first team appearance after enduring injury complications and rather played with in the Primavera league – AC Milan’s reserves squad.
Ghana Football Association officials have already made attempts to lure Boateng to commit his future to Ghana though the Europeans are bent on adding him to Mario Balotelli as the third Africa-originated player to play for La Squadra Azzura.