A DRAW IN SALERNO
Serie A
It ended 2-2 at the Arechi. AC Milan were rather caught off guard by Salernitana's aggressive approach and couldn't manage more than a draw after having taking the lead - though they did trail during the 90 minutes. Messias opened the scoring in the fifth minute before the hosts turned it around with goals from Bonazzoli (29') and Djurić (72'), only for Rebić to get the Rossoneri back on levels terms in the 77th minute. AC Milan weren't at their best and struggled to match the Granata's intensity over the course of the game. After two league wins on the bounce plus one in the Coppa Italia, the Rossoneri thus dropped points for the first time in February, which had been kind to AC Milan until tonight.
When all's said and done, a draw was the right result but one that doesn't benefit AC Milan, who failed to put away their chances in the second half, especially through Leão and Giroud. This was a match that was touted to present the odd difficulty and those came to the fore, starting with a renewed spirit thanks to the arrival of a new coach in midweek. Davide Nicola's Salernitana shut down the spaces and gave it their all, while AC Milan struggled to overcome this. The Rossoneri are back in action on Friday at San Siro when they host Udinese; a reaction to this result will most certainly be required from the group, who had been excellent in recent weeks. In any case, the evening saw Ante Rebić get back on the scoresheet as the Croat bagged his second league goal of the season. He could be a candidate to get the Rossoneri back on the right track next week.
CHECK OUT THE GALLERY FROM SALERNITANA v AC MILAN
REPORT
Salernitana made a very aggressive start and this attitude led to a shooting opportunity for Ribéry, who made a hash of his effort. A few moments later, Ranieri called Maignan into action with a left-footed shot from the edge of the box. AC Milan then struck with their first chance. Hernández provided the inspiration, producing a lovely run and pass for Messias, who calmly placed the ball into the bottom corner. Five minutes in, and the Diavolo were one to the good. In the 16th minute, Leão won a free-kick that was taken by Bennacer, with Sepe getting across to put it behind for a corner. Salernitana equalised after 29 minutes, when Maignan, under pressure from Djurić, failed to claim the ball and Bonazzoli scored with an overhead kick. The Rossoneri tried to respond and, with 41 minutes of the clock, Leão looked for Messias in the six-yard box, only for Sepe to make the ball his own. A minute later, Rafa once again threatened in the area, but Coulibaly intervened just as the Portuguese was about to let fly.
The second half started with an extraordinary acrobatic attempt from Leão that went inches wide. In the 54th minute, Romagnoli knocked the ball across for Giroud, who failed to guide it on target with his head. The Frenchman was again involved on the hour mark as he went one-on-one with Sepe, but the Salernitana shot-stopper came out on top. At the other end, Maignan was grateful to captain Romagnoli for clearing a Bonazzoli rabona that was heading towards goal in the 66th minute. Soon afterwards, Sepe did just about enough to turn a powerful Leão shot behind before the hosts took the lead in the 72nd minute, when Djurić headed home Mazzocchi’s cross from the right. It took just five minutes for the Diavolo to respond: following Giroud’s knockdown, Rebić struck it hard and true from distance as Sepe was left wrong-footed. 2-2. Now, the aim was to land a decisive knockout blow. However, after Giroud had nodded Theo’s dangerous cross over in the 80th minute, no other big chances were forthcoming. It finished in a draw at the Arechi.
MATCH DETAILS
SALERNITANA 2-2 AC MILAN
SALERNITANA (4-4-2): Sepe; Mazzocchi, Fazio, Dragusin, Ranieri; Ribéry (69' Perotti), L. Coulibaly, Radovanović (15' Éderson), Kastanos (69' Obi); Djurić (82' Mikael), Bonazzoli (82' Mousset). Subs: Belec, Fiorillo; Gagliolo, Jaroszyński, Kechrida, Veseli, Zortea; Bohinen. Coach: Nicola
AC MILAN (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Calabria (73' Florenzi), Tomori, Romagnoli, Hernández; Tonali, Bennacer (46' Kessie); Messias (73' Saelemaekers), Díaz (61' Rebić), Leão; Giroud. Subs: Mirante, Tătăruşanu; Ballo-Touré, Gabbia, Kalulu; Bakayoko, Castillejo, Krunić; Maldini. Coach: Pioli.
Referee: Fabbri from Ravenna.
Gol: 5' Messias (M), 29' Bonazzoli (S), 72' Djurić (S), 77' Rebić (M)
Booked: 35' Bennacer (M), 52' Éderson (S), 60' Giroud (M), 70' Rebić (M), 72' Djurić (S), 83' Romagnoli (M)
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