PRIMAVERA FALL TO UNLUCKY DEFEAT

AC Milan Primavera fell to a narrow defeat on matchday 12: a first-half free-kick from Gonzalez meant that Lazio ran out 1-0 winners in Formello. The Rossoneri were unlucky, and not just because of the deflection that wrong-footed Bartoccioni for the winning goal. Coach Abate’s side took the game to their opponents and constantly looked for gaps in the Biancocelesti backline. From kick-off until the final minute of stoppage time, AC Milan continued to attack but just couldn’t break through.

Despite a courageous display, a young Diavolo side, who finished the match with three 2007-born players on the pitch (with Perera making his league debut), ended up suffering their second consecutive league defeat, meaning AC Milan remain on 23 points in the table. There will, however, be plenty of opportunities for the Rossoneri to bounce back, starting with their match away to Empoli in the round of 16 of the Coppa Italia on Wednesday 6 December. As for the Diavolo’s next fixture at the PUMA House of Football, this will be against Genoa next Saturday.

CHECK OUT THE GALLERY FROM LAZIO v AC MILAN

MATCH REPORT
The match started and then continued in the same manner on a cold and windy afternoon: AC Milan on the attack, Lazio defending solidly. Paloschi had a go with a header (4’), as did Magni with his right foot five minutes later, while good combination play between Sia and Scotti came to nothing in the twelfth minute. Then, Lazio opened the scoring: a 17th-minute free-kick from Gonzalez deflected off the wall, leaving Bartoccioni with no chance of saving it. Despite the pace of the game slowing down, AC Milan created two further chances in the opening period: Scotti tested Magro in the 34th minute, while Zeroli nodded off target from a good position with 37 minutes on the clock.

The match livened up at the start of the second half. AC Milan threatened with a long-range effort from Malaspina (49’) before Sardo hit the bar for the hosts (54’). The Rossoneri kept on pushing for an equaliser, with another opportunity falling Malaspina’s way in the 61st minute. Coach Abate brought on fresh legs and also opted for a change in system. In the 70th minute, the substitute Victor tried his luck from range without success. The game was being played in one half of the pitch. With 77 minutes on the clock, Cuenca’s audacious rabona struck the bar, while the same player came close again seven minutes later with first-time left-footed strike. There was no shortage of effort from Abate’s side, who could also have equalised in stoppage time, only for Magro to keep out Magni’s close-range attempt. It finished 1-0.

MATCH DETAILS

LAZIO 1-0 AC MILAN

LAZIO (4-3-3): Magro; Zazza, Dutu, Petta, Milani; Di Tommaso, Bordon, Yordanov (82' Cappelli); Gonzalez (51' Sardo), D'Agostini (90'+2 Sulejmani), Saná Fernandes (90'+2 Cuzzarella). Subs: Renzetti, Bedini, Tredicine, Bigotti, Marini, Ferrari, Nazzaro. Coach: Sanderra.

MILAN (4-2-1-3): Bartoccioni; Bakoune (73' Perera), Paloschi, Nsiala, Magni; Stalmach (63' Victor), Malaspina (63' Bonomi); Cuenca (86' Sala); Scotti (73' Liberali), Sia, Zeroli. Subs: Raveyre, Torriani; Nissen, Parmiggiani; Martinazzi, Skoczylas. Coach: Abate.

Referee: Costanza from Agrigento.
Goal: 17' Gonzalez (L).
Booked: 63' Sardo (L), 63' Scotti (M).

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