VICTORY ON PENALTIES OVER MONZA
Friendly
AC Milan won the first edition of the Trofeo Silvio Berlusconi on penalties. After it finished 1-1 after the 90 minutes, Colpani having cancelled out Pulisic's opener, Pioli's side were ice-cold from the spot, scoring six penalties from six taken, capitalising on Birindelli's error in sudden death. Neither side held back on a night dedicated to the memory of Silvio Berlusconi, playing with great intensity in this antipasto for Serie A.
AC Milan played positive football, looking to get the ball up the pitch as quickly as possible, especially with Reijnders and Loftus-Cheek in midfield. The Rossoneri looked in good shape with just under two weeks to go until their Serie A opener away in Bologna, and they showed more alertness at the back as well. As well as Pulisic's first goal for the Club, the evening was marked by debuts off the bench for Chuwueze and Okafor, who came on for the final ten minutes. It was a good test for Pioli's side, who will continue prep with three more friendlies this week. The first is tomorrow, Wednesday 9 August, against Trento at Milanello.
CHECK OUT THE GALLERY FROM MONZA v AC MILAN
MATCH REPORT
After an emotional build-up to the game, the match began at a slow tempo, with AC Milan looking to keep the ball on the ground. The first chance came in the 12th minute when Leão tested Di Gregorio with a curling, right-footed effort. Maignan was wide awake to make a stunning double save to deny Marić and then Pessina. The Rossoneri's opener was all Pulisic. The USA international won the penalty after being brought down by D'Ambrosio and then stepped up to take the spot kick, which was saved by Di Gregorio and then turned in on the rebound by Pulisic himself. The goal galvanised the Rossoneri, who upped the tempo in search of a second but, in the 32nd minute, Colpani equalised with a powerful effort. The first half would to a close without any real chances, saved for a speculative but powerful effort from Theo - just wide - and a Leão attempt in added time that was saved by the Monza 'keeper.
It took 15 minutes of play in the second half for the next chance; Leão fired wide. In the 53rd minute, Leão looked to get on the end of Loftus-Cheek's ball in behind by Di Gregorio was there to clean up. A flare-up in midfield was calmed down only by the brandishing of a couple of yellows by the referee. Maignan then denies Caprari (67'). Chances were few and far between and Stefano Pioli shuffled the pack, sending on Bartesaghi and Colombo, as well as debutants Chukwueze and Okafore. Reijnders had two free-kicks from a decent position but failed to capitalise on them. Deep into stoppage time, Okafor had a great chance to win it but was denied by the hosts' defence. None of the first five takers on either side made a mistake in the shoot-out and it went to sudden death; Birindelli hit the crossbar and AC Milan won the game.
MATCH DETAILS
MONZA 1 (5-6 pen.) 1 AC MILAN
MONZA (3-4-2-1): Di Gregorio; Carboni A. (68' Marí), Bettella (20' D'Ambrosio), Caldirola; Ciurria (85' Birindelli), Gagliardini (85' Machín), Pessina, Carlos Augusto (90'+1 Carboni F.); Mota (56' Caprari), Colpani (79' Carboni V.); Marić (56' Petagna). Subs: Gori, Lamanna; Cittadini, Pereira; Bondo, Kyriakopoulos, Vignato. Coach: Palladino.
AC MILAN (4-3-3): Maignan; Kalulu, Tomori, Thiaw, Hernández (79' Bartesaghi); Loftus-Cheek, Krunić, Reijnders; Pulisic (79' Chukwueze), Giroud (79' Colombo), Leão (79' Okafor). Subs: Mirante, Sportiello; Florenzi, Kjær, Simić; Adli, Musah, Pobega, Romero, Zeroli. Coach: Pioli.
Referee: Marcenaro from Salerno.
Goals: 29' Pulisic (Mi), 32' Colpani (Mo).
Booked: 45' Reijnders (Mi), 58' Gagliardini (Mo), 58' Leão (Mi), 61' Hernández (Mi).
Notes: 29' Di Gregorio (Mo) saves Pulisic's (Mi) penalty.
Penalties: Reijnders (Mi) goal, Petagna (Mo) goal, Okafor (Mi) goal, Caprari (Mo) goal, Tomori (Mi) goal, Machín (Mo) goal, Loftus-Cheek (Mi) goal, Carboni F. (Mo) goal, Colombo (Mi) goal, Pessina (Mo) goal, Thiaw (Mi) goal, Birindelli (Mo) crossbar.
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