Feyenoord advanced to the Champions League round of 16 on Tuesday with a 1-1 draw at 10-man AC Milan, defeating the seven-time European champions 2-1 on aggregate.
Julian Carranza scored the decisive header in the 73rd minute at a cold San Siro, canceling out Milan’s first-minute lead and advancing the Dutch to face either Inter Milan or Arsenal.
Carranza, an Argentine forward, scored for Feyenoord shortly after coming on as a substitute as the away side moved to the next round, while Milan struggled after Theo Hernandez was sent off early in the second half.
Already on a booking for a needless foul on Anis Hadj-Moussa just before half-time, Hernandez was ruled by referee Szymon Marciniak to have dived in the penalty box when under pressure from Givairo Read.
The France full-back was dismissed, leaving Milan on the back foot after having dominated up to that point.
Hernandez’s sending off and Carranza’s tie-winning header ruined what looked to be Gimenez’s night when he nodded home the opener against his old team after just 36 seconds.
Mexico forward Gimenez has already scored three times for Milan since signing from Feyenoord during the winter transfer window but his sixth goal in the Champions League this season was also his last.
Sergio Conceicao’s Milan are by no means assured of a spot in next year’s tournament as they sit seventh in Serie A, five points off the top four with a game in hand.
