AC Milan wins the Italian Super Cup on penalties

AC Milan players celebrate after winning Italian Super Cup soccer match against Juventus at the Al- Sadd Sports Club in Doha on Friday. (AP)

DOHA: AC Milan beat Juventus to win the Italian Super Cup on Thursday in a penalty shootout, the first trophy the Rossoneri have won since 2011.
Mario Pasilic blasted home the final spot kick to give AC Milan a 4-3 victory on penalties after a hard fought 1-1 deadlock at 90 minutes and after extra time in Doha.
Mario Mandzukic and Paulo Dybala missed their spot kicks for Juventus, with Gianluca Lapadula the only Milan player not to convert his penalty.
It is the second time Milan have beaten Juventus, who lead Serie A by four points, this season.
In October, they won 1-0 in the San Siro.
The victory was just about merited by Milan who responded well after early Juventus dominance.
Juve, Italian league and cup double winners last season, had taken the lead in 18th minute after Giorgio Chiellini prodded home a Miralem Pjanic corner.
At that stage it was all Juventus and it was not until the 36th minute that Milan had their first shot on target, a tame effort from midfielder Juraj Kucka.
But they drew level just before half-time when Giacomo Bonaventura beautifully glanced home a Fernandez Suso cross.
Suso was a constant irritant to the Juve defense and set up several fine chances including an 83rd minute header for Carlos Bacca, who was denied by a great save by evergreen Gianluigi Buffon, making his 600th appearance for Juventus.
Romagnoli also went close, hitting the bar with a header.
Juventus also had their chances, most notably in extra time.
In the 111th minute Patrice Evra put the ball in the net only to be ruled offside, then Dybala missed a great chance, spooning a shot over when unmarked from just eight yards with only four minutes remaining.
The match was watched by a near capacity crowd of 11,356.
For Qatar, who are on the long countdown to a controversial World Cup in 2022, it is a good opportunity to prove they can stage a high-profile football match.
But exporting this particular match is hardly a new phenomenon. Since its inception in 1988, the Supercoppa has also been staged in Washington DC, New Jersey, Tripoli, Beijing and Shanghai.
Not that there seems to be any rhyme or reason to it’s location — in 2011 and 2012, it was played at the Beijing National Stadium, but was much closer to home in Rome in 2013 before being exported again in 2014.