OLI BAGS HAT‑TRICK IN SAMPDORIA THRASHING
Serie A
AC Milan are back to winning ways as they beat Sampdoria by five goals to nil at San Siro on matchday 36. It was a vital victory for the Rossoneri both in terms of morale and their standings in the table as Pioli's men move to 64 points, one behind fourth-place Lazio for the time being. The result came about as a result of a performance full of personality from Pioli's side, who approached the game well but never underestimated their opponents. Goals from Leão and Giroud in the first half an hour (Quagliarella had made it 1-1 briefly) paved the way for Díaz and the French forward (hat-trick) to wrap it up in the second half.
It was Oli's first hat-trick in an AC Milan shirt, on an evening when Rafa bagged his 13th goal in the league this season and Brahim his sixth. The Spaniard also registered two assists. AC Milan needed and deserved this win. It was one of their best nights of the season; the Rossoneri picked themselves up following the disappointment in Europe and showed their worth out on the pitch tonight, as head coach Stefano Pioli had asked for in his pre-match press conference. We're back in action next Sunday (28 May) with a crunch match away at Juventus with three important points up for grabs in the race for European football.
CHECK OUT THE GALLERY FROM AC MILAN v SAMPDORIA
MATCH REPORT
The Rossoneri dominated possession early on and were in front with nine minutes on the clock when Leão coolly slotted home past Ravaglia, after Díaz’s accurate ball over the top. The tempo of the game slowed and after 20 minutes the visitors equalised through Quagliarella. The reaction was immediate, though, and the home side hit back moments later: first Thiaw made Ravaglia work before Giroud’s header made it 2-1 from the resulting corner. AC Milan were playing some good football and won a penalty after 27 minutes when Leão was brought down in the box by Günter: up stepped Giroud to send Ravaglia the wrong way for 3-1. Oli was close to a stunning first-half hat-trick a few minutes later with a twisting turn and shot that tested the visiting keeper’s reflexes. Díaz then intercepted a pass out by Samp’s number 1, but his cross in was then recovered by the Doriano keeper and the two sides went in for a break.
The second half started off at a fast pace, too, with a Giroud effort and Tonali’s free-kick blocked. After the game’s first change (Saelemaekers for Messias) on the 61st-minute mark, Giroud had another header well-saved by Ravaglia. At the other end of the pitch, Maignan was alert to keep out Gabbiadini’s left-footed curler. The fourth goal for the Rossoneri came after 63 minutes: a nice one-two between Leão and Tonali saw the latter cross in for Díaz, who side-footed home into an empty net from close range. Five minutes later and it was five, with Giroud grabbing a hat-trick after holding off Nuytinck and stumbling the ball in from Leão’s cross. The Rossoneri continued to surge forward looking for more goals, with Calabria and substitute De Ketelaere not finding the luck, that is sometimes needed, in front of goal. The final whistle blew and it ended 5-1 with a welcome round of applause from the San Siro faithful.
MATCH DETAILS
AC MILAN 5-1 SAMPDORIA
AC MILAN (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Calabria, Thiaw, Tomori (81' Kjær), Hernández (81' Ballo-Touré); Tonali (81' Pobega), Krunić; Messias (60' Saelemaekers), Díaz (70' De Ketelaere), Leão; Giroud. Subs: Mirante, Tătăruşanu; Gabbia, Kalulu; Adli, Bakayoko. Coach: Pioli.
SAMPDORIA (4-4-2): Ravaglia; Zanoli, Günter, Nuytinck (69' Amione), Augello; Đuričić (82' İlkhan), Winks, Rincón (82' Paoletti), Léris; Gabbiadini (69' Lammers), Quagliarella (69' Oikonomou). Subs: Tantalocchi, Turk; Murillo, Murru; Segovia; De Luca, Jesé. Coach: Stanković.
Referee: Fourneau from Roma 1.
Goals: 9' Leão (M), 20' Quagliarella (S), 23', 29' pen. and 68' Giroud (M), 63' Díaz (M).
Booked: 27' Günter (S), 30' Léris (S), 75' Hernández (M).
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