DEFEAT ON PENALTIES TO JUVE IN LA
AC Milan Tour
The Rossoneri's second friendly on their pre-season tour in the USA ended in defeat to Juventus on penalties, after drawing 2-2 in normal time. It was a good test against a fellow Serie A side, with many positive signs for the following weeks' work ahead. Thiaw and Giroud gave us the lead twice, but the Bianconeri managed to reply and earn a draw. Coach Pioli gave minutes to his recently-returned internationals and new summer signings, before making wholesale changes just shy of the hour mark. One negative note was an injury to captain Calabria, who was forced off after just a few minutes of play.
After the break, there were positive signs from several young players introduced, who were energetic and got to the rhythm of the game well. Aside from the penalty shootout, that gave Juventus victory, Marco Sportiello also showed great reflexes to save from Iling-Junior and Soulé, and to react to the mistake made for one of the goals against Real Madrid in Pasadena last time out. The squad now have a rest day on Friday before returning back to training in their final few days in Los Angeles. The next - and last - game of this tour is scheduled for Tuesday 1 August in Las Vegas against Barcelona.
CHECK OUT THE GALLERY FROM JUVENTUS v AC MILAN
THE MATCH
It was a first-half characterised by set-pieces: three goals and all born out of dead-ball situations. The Rossoneri started off strongly and scored inside two minutes through Rafa, but it was chalked off following a good move that saw Pulisic in an offside position. The opener finally arrived after 23 minutes when Thiaw rose highest to nod home from a Theo free-kick. It was Malick's first ever goal for the Club, although it was not in an official game. Juve responded with two dangerous forays by Chiesa before equalising on 33 minutes through Danilo, who hit the back of the net from a corner following a scramble in the box. The Rossoneri's bursts forward caused havoc, specifically those centrally by Reijnders, but it was a corner that regained AC Milan's advantage: Theo played it short to Pulisic, whose accurate ball in again found Thiaw's head who knocked it down for Giroud to volley home with his left and make it 2-1.
Juventus drew back level immediately after the restart with another set-piece: Chiesa's powerfully struck free-kick unfortunatly skimming the top of Giroud's head and the ball flew into the net for 2-2. Soon after, both Head Coaches made a flurry of changes: Sportiello; Saelemaekers, Simić, Bartesaghi, Florenzi; De Ketelaere, Adli, Pobega; Romero, Colombo and Traorè all coming on. Pobega was unlucky with 15 to play when his left-footed effort went just wide; a minute later and Romero forced Pinsoglio into a good save, after Traorè had won back possession. There was also space for Zeroli, and three minutes before the end Adli's free-kick hit the target but it was straight at Pinsoglio, who saved well again. That signalled the last of the action and the game was concluded on penalties: Adli, De Ketelaere and Colombo scored for us, with Sportiello's two saves not enough.
MATCH DETAILS
JUVENTUS 6 (2-2) 5 AC MILAN
JUVENTUS (3-5-2): Szczęsny (46' Pinsoglio); Gatti (59' Huijsen), Bremer (59' Alex Sandro), Danilo (46' Rugani); Weah (59' Soulé), McKennie (59' Nonge), Locatelli (59' Nicolussi C.), Miretti (46' Iling-Junior), Cambiaso (46' Kostić); Kean (59' Milik), Chiesa (59' Yildiz). Unused subs: Daffara; De Winter; Barrenechea. Coach: Allegri.
AC MILAN (4-3-3): Maignan (57' Sportiello); Calabria (21' Florenzi) (84' Zeroli), Thiaw (57' Simić), Tomori (57' Bartesaghi), Hernández (57' Saelemaekers); Loftus-Cheek (57' Pobega), Krunić (57' Adli), Reijnders (57' De Ketelaere); Pulisic (57' Romero), Giroud (57' Colombo), Leão (57' Traorè). Unused subs: Mirante. Coach: Pioli.
Referee: Timothy Ford (USA).
Goals: 23' Thiaw (M), 33' Danilo (J), 38' Giroud (M), 48' own goal Giroud (J)
Booked: 15' Thiaw (M), 54' Locatelli (J).
Penalties: Romero (M) out, Milik (J) goal, Adli (M) goal, Iling-Junior (J) saved, Pobega (M) saved, Nicolussi C. (J) goal, De Ketelaere (M) goal, Huijsen (J) goal, Colombo (M) goal, Kostić (J) saved, Bartesaghi (M) saved, Soulè (J) goal.
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