LATE GOAL RESCUES A POINT IN SALERNO
Serie A
The Rossoneri's final away game of 2023 ended 2-2 between Salernitana and AC Milan on Serie A matchday 17, the last before Christmas. It was a tough game for Stefano Pioli's side, who took the lead in the 17th minute through Tomori - who came off in the second half through injury, as did Kjær - before the Granata came from behind to take the lead through Fazio and Candreva. The Rossoneri dug deep and levelled affairs late on with a goal from Luka Jović, who came on for the final quarter of an hour to bag his third league goal this season, and what a big one it was.
It's a difficult one to digest because it extends the Rossoneri run of away games without a win in Serie A; the last one was on 7 October. The result hasn't changed the standings as AC Milan remain in third, which is a positive to take forward, much like the good reaction late in the day and the impact of the substitutions. We're not stopping for the holiday this year either, as Sassuolo come to San Siro on Saturday 30th for our final match of the calendar year. It will be a big chance to pick up form ahead of the new year: forza ragazzi!
CHECK OUT THE GALLERY FROM SALERNITANA v AC MILAN
MATCH REPORT
The first chance of the game came inside 80 seconds, with a quick breakaway ending with Leão's right-footed shot on the turn being deflected behind for a corner. AC Milan dominated early on, leaving little space for the home side to create anything; the Granata's only threat came through Dia's attempt on six minutes, but Maignan was there to save. The Rossoneri took the lead in the 17th minute, with Tomori reacting quickly to send the ball home from inside the six-yard box following a corner. The goal calmed the game down, with the visitors in control and no alarm bells calling: Reijnders and Bennacer tried their luck after 35 and 37 minutes, respectively, but without success. The hosts started to up their intensity, with Maignan stopping Kastanos after 41 minutes. And he could nothing about Fazio’s header that made it 1-1. The Rossoneri’s reaction came from Theo’s free-kick from distance on 45', with Costil stretching well to make the save.
The half-time break saw Simić come on for Kjær, who picked up an injury at the end of the first half. The opening minutes saw little action, before Ikwuemesi’s effort flew over after 54 minutes, while Loftus-Cheek's powerful left-footed hit made Costil work. Salernitana went ahead in the 63rd minute through Candreva's right-footed strike that squeezed past Maignan. And they came close to extending it on 68 minutes, but this time the Rossoneri number 16 tipped over Mazzocchi’s attempt. The away side’s response did come in the closing stages: in the 82nd minute, Jović was thwarted twice by Costil; in the 84th minute, Reijnders' right-footed volley was blocked and then Chukwueze also found the Granata goalkeeper in his way in the 85th minute from his left-footed effort from distance. The final onslaught was eventually awarded though in the 90th minute, with Jović superbly turning the ball home with his left to grab the equaliser. Deep into stoppage-time, Costil kept out Calabria’s excellent header; it ended 2-2.
MATCH DETAILS
SALERNITANA 2-2 AC MILAN
SALERNITANA (4-2-3-1): Costil; Mazzocchi (78' Bronn), Fazio, Pirola (62' Gyömbér), Bradarić; Coulibaly, Łęgowski; Tchaouna (78' Martegani), Kastanos (78' Cabral), Candreva; Dia (48' Ikwuemesi). Subs: Fiorillo, Salvati; Daniliuc, Lovato, Sambia; Bohinen; Botheim, Simy. Coach: F. Inzaghi.
AC MILAN (4-3-3): Maignan; Calabria, Tomori (65' Florenzi), Kjær (46' Simić), Hernández; Loftus-Cheek, Bennacer (70' Jović), Reijnders; Pulisic (70' Chukwueze), Giroud, Leão. Subs: Mirante, Nava; Bartesaghi, Jiménez, Nsiala; Adli, Krunić, Romero, Zeroli. Coach: Pioli.
Referee: Doveri from Roma 1.
Goals: 17' Tomori (M), 42' Fazio (S), 63' Candreva (S), 90' Jović (M).
Booked: 33' F. Inzaghi (S), 35' Leão (M), 44' Kastanos (S), 71' Mazzocchi (S), 74' Gyömbér (S).
Sent-off: 90'+4 Fiorillo (S) from the bench.
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