PULISIC SCORES ON DEBUT IN BOLOGNA WIN
Serie A
AC Milan got off to a strong start in Serie A, beating Bologna 2-0 at the Dall'Ara thanks to Olivier Giroud and Christian Pulisic, both of whom scored in the first half. The Rossoneri began the game well and their two goals were well deserved given their convincing performance in the first half an hour. The hosts grew into it after the break but the Rossoneri managed the game well, with maturity and assuredness. They took very few risks while taking all three points, not an easy thing to achieve, especially in that heat.
There were plenty of new faces in Stefano Pioli's first starting XI of the season, including competitive debuts for Loftus-Cheek, Reijnders and Pulisic in the 4-3-3 formation, which we saw frequently in pre-season. The USA international looked in inspired form, while Chukwueze and Okafor also came on in the second half for their first league appearances with AC Milan. As well as the new players, some key performers from last season also stepped up: the tireless Giroud scored the Rossoneri's opener and assisted the second, while the defence looked very solid. AC Milan also kept their first clean sheet of the season. Now, we move forwards without pause as we look ahead to Saturday's game at San Siro when the Rossoneri host Jurić's Torino. Keep it up, boys!
CHECK OUT THE GALLERY FROM BOLOGNA v AC MILAN
MATCH REPORT
The home side flew out of the traps and inside 20 seconds hit the bar through Lykogiannis’ powerful left-footed strike from distance. But AC Milan settled into the game quickly and, after a nice spell of possession, hit the first blow on eleven minutes: Pulisic finding Reijnders at the back post, who put the ball back across goal for Giroud to slot home past Skorupski with his right to make it 1-0. Bologna reacted through Ferguson, but after 21 minutes they found themselves two down: Pulisic played a quick one-two with Giroud on the edge of the box and unleashed an unstoppable right-footed effort into the far corner, 2-0. Around the half-hour mark, the two again linked up, but Skorupski was forced into parrying behind the Frenchman’s volley, while Maignan blocked Ferguson’s well-hit attempt on 34 minutes. At the break, it was 2-0 to AC Milan.
The Rossoneri looked to slow the game down in the second half, while the introduction of Orsolini gave new life and energy to the Rossoblù. Bologna stepped up the pace: after 60', Ndoye got away down the left and tried to surprise an alert Maignan, but his attempt bounced off the outside of the near post to go behind. A minute later, there was a double chance for Ferguson and Posch, but Mike was again alive to keep the side from Emilia-Romagna out. AC Milan controlled possession, leaving the home side no opportunities to advance forward. Minutes passed by and tiredness increased, with chances at a premium. Numerous changes from both teams had no effect on the match, as Pobega and Ferguson both tried their luck from distance without any success. There was space for Chukwueze and Okafor to come one make their debuts in the closing minutes. In the 90th minute, a driving Leão surge forward ended with him hitting the post, before the final whistle blew: it ended 2-0.
MATCH DETAILS
BOLOGNA 0-2 AC MILAN
BOLOGNA (4-2-3-1): Skorupski; Posch, Beukema, Lucumí, Lykogiannīs (87' Corazza); Aebischer, Domínguez (72' El Azzouzi); Ndoye, Ferguson (87' van Hooijdonk), Moro (46' Orsolini); Zirkzee (87' Urbanski). Subs: Bagnolini, Ravaglia; Bonifazi, De Silvestri, Sosa; Fabbian. Coach: Motta.
AC MILAN (4-3-3): Maignan; Calabria (73' Kalulu), Thiaw (88' Kjær), Tomori, Hernández; Loftus-Cheek (73' Pobega), Krunić, Reijnders; Pulisic (73' Chukwueze), Giroud (73' Okafor), Leão. Subs: Mirante, Sportiello; Bartesaghi, Florenzi; Adli, Romero, Zeroli; Colombo. Coach: Pioli.
Referee: Pairetto from Nichelino.
Goals: 11' Giroud (M), 21' Pulisic (M).
Booked: 30' Aebischer (B), 51' Hernández (M), 76' Krunić (M), 77' Zirkzee (B).
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