AC MILAN SINK VENEZIA AT THE PENZO
Serie A
AC Milan cruised past the Lagunari in Venice this afternoon. It ended 3-0 at the Penzo to the Rossoneri who took the lead with Ibra's opening goal in the 2nd minute and then sealed the victory thanks to Theo's brace, captaining the side for the second matchday in a row. There is not much else to say, a deserved victory and no complaints about the Rossoneri, who are now on 48 points in the standings. The match was on the right track from the second minute of a play, a clear sign that the team's approach to the match was just right, serious. Hernández doubled our lead at the start of the second half and the game was firmly under control from then on. This was also thanks to the hosts going down to ten men when Svoboda received a red card for a handball which also gave away the penalty that made it 3-0.
There was lots to be happy about for Coach Pioli, starting with Theo rediscovering his scoring form. The left-back hadn't scored in the league since AC Milan v Venice at San Siro earlier this season. The Gabbia-Kalulu duo also performed flawlessly and of course, two assists for Leão to follow on from his goal against Roma. Ante Rebić's return put a smile on everyone's faces, as he hadn't played since the Derby on 7 November. A Sunday to remember for Luca Stanga, as the 19-year-old made his Serie A debut today. Sandro Tonali was booked and will miss our next league game, on Monday 17 January at 18:30 against Spezia. First, though, the Coppa Italia, on Thursday at 21:00 at San Siro against Genoa.
CHECK OUT THE GALLERY FROM VENEZIA v AC MILAN
MATCH REPORT
Two minutes into the game and we had the lead already: Leão broke away on the left and crossed low for Ibra, who made no mistake. The Rossoneri did not let off and in the 7th minute they were threatening again: Ibra returned the favour for Leão, who swerved and let fly with his right foot, but Romero saved it. It was all AC Milan in the opening minutes and 12 minutes in Romero came out to deal first with Kalulu's header and then Bakayoko's strike. After 15 minutes Venezia's tempo increased, but they never seriously challenged Maignan. In the 28th minute, Theo's dangerous free-kick was pushed behind for a corner by Romero, and a minute later the Argentine goalkeeper made a similar save off Florenzi's right-footed shot from outside the box. Henry's two headers marked a reprisal from the Lagunari just after the half-hour mark, with Romero denying Leão again in the final minutes.
The second half began like the first: in the 48th minute, Leão put Theo through, who kept Mazzocchi at arm's length and cannoned it past Romero at the near post, 2-0 AC Milan. Venezia reacted and created two chaotic chances right in front of Maignan, which the Rossoneri defence somehow managed to clear. In the 54th minute, promising play on our part ended in a header from Messias that went just wide. We were awarded a penalty in the 57th minute, resulting in a red card for Svoboda, who stopped Theo's tap-in from going in with his hand on the line: Hernández himself made no mistake from the penalty spot and completed his brace. There were plenty of substitutions from both sides, but AC Milan did not let off: in the 74th minute, Maldini put Hernández through, who was unable to get a shot off thanks to Mazzocchi's intervention. There was also a chance for Venezia in the final minutes, but Kalulu managed to block Okereke's attempt. Fullt time at the Penzo, 0-3 AC Milan.
MATCH DETAILS
VENEZIA 0-3 AC MILAN
VENEZIA (4-3-1-2): Romero; Mazzocchi, Svoboda, Ceccaroni, Haps; Cuisance (60' Kiyine), Busio, Ampadu; Aramu (60' Johnsen); Henry (60' Črnigoj), Okereke. Subs: Lezzerini; Modolo, Molinaro, Schnegg; Bjarkason, Fiordilino, Peretz; Forte, Sigurðsson. Coach: Zanetti.
AC MILAN (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Florenzi (88' Stanga), Kalulu, Gabbia, Hernández; Tonali, Bakayoko; Saelemaekers (46' Messias), Díaz (73' Maldini), Leão (62' Rebić); Ibrahimović (73' Giroud). Subs: Mirante, Nava; Conti; Krunić. Coach: Pioli.
Referee: Irrati from Pistoia.
Goals: 2' Ibrahimović (M), 48' Hernández (M), 59' pen. Hernández (M)
Booked: 5' Saelemaekers (M), 37' Gabbia (M), 56' Ceccaroni (V), 73' Tonali (M)
Sent-off: 58' Svoboda (V)
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