MILAN — Seldom has a player’s sending off had such an influence on a game.
AC Milan was to left rue Theo Hernandez’s second yellow card — for diving — as Feyenoord advanced to the Champions League last 16 at the former European champion’s expense with a 1-1 draw in the second leg of their playoff on Tuesday.
Hernandez was sent off for a dive in the 51st minute when Milan was dominating after forward Santiago Giménez’s first-minute goal had levelled the tie against his former team. Feyenoord had won the first leg of the playoff 1-0 last week.
But Milan’s defence looked anything but assured after referee Szymon Marciniak showed Hernandez another yellow card for his dive. The France defender had earned his first before the break for lashing out at a Feyenoord player after a foul on teammate João Félix.
Hugo Bueno crossed for Julián Carranza to head Feyenoord level on the night in the 73rd, giving the Dutch team a 2-1 win on aggregate.
Feyenoord’s Givairo Read was shown a red card following another melee after the final whistle.
Feyenoord will play either Inter Milan or Arsenal in the round of 16.
In other playoffs later Tuesday, Bayern Munich was hosting Celtic with a 2-1 lead, Benfica was leading 1-0 before hosing Monaco, and Atalanta was 2-1 to Club Brugge before the Belgian club’s visit.
