PRIMAVERA BEATEN 1-0 BY LECCE

AC Milan were edged out by Lecce on matchday 12 in Primavera 1 as they ended 2022 with a slender defeat. Despite a good start to the game, the Rossoneri played out a quiet first half, with Nava making some crucial saves and Bartesaghi some timely tackles. The turning point came when Nava was sent off, before the side from Salento found the winning goal, all inside the first ten minutes of the restart. Down to ten men, it was an uphill struggle for the Rossoneri from there on in.

Abate's lads didn't cave in though, and showed great character to limit Lecce to very few chances. There were debut Primavera appearances for Sia and Martinazzi, but they failed to have any impact on the game. The young side fall to their second successive loss on the road, unable to match their recent good performance against Atalanta, remaining on 15 points and being overtaken by the Giallorossi in the table. There is now time to recharge the batteries during the long international break in order to get ready to restart back up and try to take the excellent UEFA Youth League form into the league campaign with further confidence.

SEE THE IMAGES FROM LECCE V AC MILAN

THE MATCH
AC Milan set a good tone early on but the first scare of the game came to the Rossoneri backline when Munoz's cross dangerously headed towards goal; Nava was alert though and punched it away from danger. After 19 minutes, the away side had their first big chance: Simić strode effortlessly out of defence with the ball and played it out wide to Alesi, who advanced forward before cutting back inside to hit a left-footed shot that just went wide of the post. Abate's squad, though, dropped off allowing the Salentini to push further forward. On the half-hour mark, Berisha's attempt from a corner was deflected but Nava wasn't caught off guard. The Giallorossi continued to find space and Salomaa came close to opening the scoring, first by getting away from Coubis and Bakoune, and then getting a powerful shot across goal away that just whistled past the post. It was Lecce again in the closing stages of the half; after 40 minutes, a well-prepared corner move eventually found Samek, whose low drive skimmed the outside of the post. On the stroke of half-time, Samek's half-volley was miraculously saved by Nava to send the sides into the break level.

Bot sides kept the same line-up going into the second half, and after 53 minutes the turning point of the game arrived: Pluvio lost possession in his own half and Nava was forced into rushing out and bringing down Burnete just outside the box; the referee had no hesitation in issuing the red card to send the goalkeeper off. From the resulting free-kick, Berisha stepped up and put it away past Torriani, with the help of a deflection. The lead allowed the side from Apulia to play more cautiously, while Abate tried to shake things up by bringing on Victor and 2006-born Sia, fresh from his first Rossoneri goal in the Coppa Italia. But it was the home side that maintained control and slowed the game down. After 68 minutes, Victor and Sia produced a nice piece of link-up play, with the striker eventually going down in the penalty area, but the referee deemed there was no foul and waved play on; the ball fell to Corfitzen who wasted a great chance firing over from in front of goal. 15 minutes from the end, stand-in goalkeeper Torriani did well to stop from Dorgu to keep his side in it. Abate's side didn't give up, resisting further pressure from the opposition and still looked for a way back into the game. But it wasn't to be their day and at the final whistle, it ended 1-0 to the home side.

POST-MATCH STATEMENT
"We played very poorly in the first half, apart from the first 15 minutes," Coach Abate said at the end of the game. "We really struggle to play in these types of scrappy games, it's one of our biggest limits. I expect more from the lads who already have experience at this level, they need to develop fast or else we won't reach our season's set targets. The break is going to help us to recharge the batteries and work on the training ground more regularly."

MATCH DETAILS

LECCE V AC MILAN 1-0

LECCE (4-3-3): Borbei; Munoz, Hasic, Pascalau, Dorgu; Samek, Vulturar, Berisha; Salomaa (86' Ciucci), Burnete, Corfitzen (82' Daka). Unused subs: Moccia, Leone; Abdellaoui, Russo; Borgo, Minerva; Carrozzo, Kausinis, Milli. Coach: Coppitelli. 

AC MILAN (4-3-3): Nava; Bakoune, Coubis, Simić, Bartesaghi; Gala (77' Omoregbe), Pluvio (65' Victor), Stalmach; Scotti (77' Martinazzi), Lazetić (54' Torriani), Alesi (65' Sia). Unused subs: Bartoccioni; Casali, Nsiala, Paloschi; Zeroli; Mangiameli. Coach: Abate.

Referee: Gigliotti.
Goal: 55' Berisha (L).
Bookings: 28' Lazetić (M), 71' Bartesaghi (M), 73' Victor (M).
Red card: 53' Nava (M).

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