PRIMAVERA START OFF STRONGLY: 3-1 AT MONZA

Coach Abate's Primavera side kicked off their league campaign in the best possible fashion today by beating Monza 3-1 at the Centro Sportivo Luigi Berlusconi - Monzello, making the most of a dominant display. This first-ever matchup with the Brianzoli, promoted for the first time to Primavera 1 this season, brought smiles to the Rossoneri, who were able to steer the game their way at the start of the second half following Diego Sia's clinical brace. Earlier in the game, Alessandro Bonomi had opened the scoring before the Biancorossi's equaliser midway through the first half. The Rossoneri showed over the course of the game sizeable spirit and character, managing the ball and energy levels excellently once ahead.

The first starting eleven of the season chosen by Coach Abate, with kick-off put back due to bad weather, had two new hot topics: the selection of Bartoccioni between the sticks and 2006-born Bonomi on the forward left flank. And it was he who impressed and surprised everyone with his performance, breaking the deadlock with a fine finish on his first appearance at this level. After the break, three new faces got time on the pitch for the first time in a Rossoneri shirt: Jiménez, Camarda and Perrucci. For capitan Zeroli and teammates, their next fixture is not far off, with Bologna the visitors to the PUMA House of Football for matchday 2 next weekend.

CHECK OUT THE GALLERY FROM MONZA v AC MILAN

MATCH REPORT
The first chance was for AC Milan: Bonomi linked up with Sia, who played through Bartesaghi but his left-footed shot was blocked by Mazza inside three minutes. The hosts' first effort came after eleven minutes through Longhi's blocked shot from outside the area. The Rossoneri took the lead on 19': Cuenca picked out Bonomi in the box, who unleashed a powerful and accurate left-foot strike under the bar to make it 1-0. The Biancorossi reacted well though and equalised on 33' with Ferraris' free-kick from the edge of the area giving Bartoccioni no chance. AC Milan then went up the other and created two good chances: first through Victor from 18 yards out (39'), and then Simić, who scored 42' but was deemed to be in an offside position. In the closing minutes of the half, Cuenca and Zeroli both came close: 1-1 at the break.

The Rossoneri started off the second half strongly and were back in front within seconds with Sia taking advantage of some indecision in the home side's backline to fire past Mazza. Coach Abate's lads stepped up the pace and found their third after 50 minutes, again through Sia: Zeroli's layoff and Diego just had to place it home for a double, 3-1 to AC Milan. The away side continued to dominate and look for more goals with chances for Victor (61') and Sia (66'), but without any luck. The substitutions made did not change the direction of the game, with AC Milan in complete control and managing the ball and energy levels. The last chance came both to Scotti's right foot, on the 79th minute and 93rd, but the result stayed the same: it ended 3-1.

POST-MATCH COMMENTS
"We played a really good game, despite making some errors," analysed Coach Ignazio Abate. "We have room for development, we played against a strong side but we held firm. We started well, then didn't manage the result well. In the second half, we were fired up and wanted to win, and we showed that. I want to underline the spirit and togetherness of the group; we are a young squad and starting off with three points gives us great confidence moving forward."

MATCH DETAILS

MONZA 1-3 AC MILAN

MONZA (3-5-2): Mazza; Graziano (78' Cagia), Ravelli (52' Bagnaschi), Brugarello; Marras, Dell'Acqua (46' Zoppi), Colombo, Lupinetti, Ferraris; Fernandes (78' Troise), Longhi (52' Goffi). Unused subs: Ciardi; Berretta, Capolupo, De Crescenzo, Giubrone, Martins. Coach: Lupi.

AC MILAN (4-2-3-1): Bartoccioni; Bakoune (46' Jiménez), Simić, Nsiala, Bartesaghi; Victor, Stalmach (69' Perrucci); Cuenca (75' Scotti), Zeroli, Bonomi (69' Camarda); Sia (86' Malaspina). Unused subs: Raveyre; Magni, Paloschi, Parmiggiani; Mancioppi; Liberali. Coach: Abate.

Referee: Andreano.
Goals: 19' Bonomi (M), 33' Ferraris (MZ), 46' Sia (M), 50' Sia (M).
Bookings: 31' Bakoune (M), 44' Lupinetti (MZ).

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