Gianluigi outshines Buffon

Donnarumma’s heroics in shootout help AC Milan beat Juventus in Super Cup

AC MILAN lifted the Italian Super Cup after 17-year-old goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma's save from Paulo Dybala secured a 4-3 penalty shootout win over Juventus on Friday. Giorgio Chiellini put Juve ahead and Giacomo Bonaventura equalised, both in the first half, as a freeflowing match finished 1-1 after extra-time.

Gianluca Lapadula's first penalty for Milan was saved by Gianluigi Buffon. Mario Mandzukicthenfiredajuveeffort against the crossbar before Donnarummaproducedasuperb Number of years after which AC Milan has won a major trophy. It was their longest drought since 1988.

Number of appearances Buffon has made for Juventus: 473 in league, 12 in Italian Cup, 7 in Super Cup and 108 in Europe. one-handedsavetostoptheirfifth attempt from Dybala.

That left Mario Pasalic to convert the winner with ease. Donnarumma, a Milan regular, had kept Juve at bay in the previous 120 minutes while Dybala could have won the game at the end of extra-time but sent a wild effort sailing over the bar.

The teenager, first given his chance as a 16-year-old last season under Sinisa Mihajlovic and already an Italian international, wasspeechless."icannotdescribe what I'm feeling and I don't even know what was going through my head," he told state broadcaster RAI.

The match is traditionally played between the Serie A and Italian Cup winners. Juve, league champions for the last five seasons and four points clear at the top this term, won both last term so Milan, showing signs of improvement after several mediocre campaigns, qualified as cup runners-up.

Donnarumma made early saves from Stefano Sturaro and Mandzukic before Chiellini turned the ball in from a corner in the 18th minute. Milan, who beat Juve 1-0 in their last Serie A meetingandarefifthinseriea,levelled when Bonaventura scored with a glancing header from Spaniard Suso'scrosssevenminutesbefore halftime.

Donnarumma made another outstanding save in the second half to turn Sami Khedira's longrange effort over the bar.