ROSSONERI BREEZE TO VICTORY OVER LECCE AT SAN SIRO
Serie A
And it's seven. The Rossoneri's winning run in Serie A (5) and the Europa League continued with a 3-0 victory over Lecce on matchday 31. This afternoon's game at San Siro was put beyond doubt within 20 minutes thanks to goals from Christian Pulisic (a brilliant curling effort from outside the box) and Olivier Giroud, who scored his first goal in a month and a half. With a numerical advantage for the whole of the second half, Pioli's side, who were in their Third Kit today, extended their lead through Rafa Leão and came close to adding a fourth on various occasions in the final quarter of an hour. Second place looks even more secure.
And so, April has begun much like March ended: with three more points in the wake of a convincing all-round performance. Against an adversary that refused to lie down, even at two goals down with a man sent off, the Rossoneri managed the tempo of the game, conceded very little at the back and kept up a constant threat on the front foot. As well as the goalscorers today and Adli who provided two assists, we have to mention the performance of Samuel Chukwueze, who very much impressed today on the right-hand side of a new-look trio of Leão on the right and Pulisic through the middle in support of Giroud. Up next for the Rossoneri, it's the first leg of the Europa League quarter-final against Roma. Forza Milan!
CHECK OUT THE GALLERY FROM AC MILAN v LECCE
MATCH REPORT
After an initial scare on two minutes from González's shot on the edge of the box, AC Milan broke the deadlock with an absolute gem from Pulisic in the 6th minute: Chukwueze's low cross found Chris, who controlled the ball, shifted it onto his left foot and curled one beautifully into the corner past Falcone. The Rossoneri number 11 immediately came close to doubling the lead a minute later, when his header found the visiting goalkeeper's gloves. We continued to build momentum and an opening created by Chukwueze ended with Leão's shot being deflecting behind for a corner in the 11th minute. In control of the game, a second came in the 20th minute: an Adli corner kick was flicked home by Giroud to grab his 13th goal of the season. After doubling their lead, the tempo of the game slowed, with Lecce not giving up and close to pulling one back after González headed against the crossbar in the 29th minute, and then Maignan saved from Krstović in the 42nd minute, who was however sent off at the end of the first half for dangerous play.
The second half kicked off with two attempts from an inspired Chukwueze, before the home side found a third in the 57th minute to effectively end the game: Adli's inch-perfect long pass forward pierced the Lecce defence putting Leão through on goal, who made no mistake placing the ball under an onrushing Falcone. The Rossoneri did not sit on their laurals and looked for more: Rafa put a nice through ball for Giroud, whose shot went wide in the 61st minute; and Theo had two chances, first hitting the crossbar with a powerful left-footed shot and then forcing Falcone to save with a low free-kick between the 64th and 68th minute. Lecce kept plugging away and in the 76th minute, Almqvist called Maignan into action, who made a tough save following a breakaway. In the final quarter of an hour, the two teams failed to worry each other and after four minutes of stoppage-time the final whistle was blown: 3-0 to us!
MATCH DETAILS
AC MILAN 3-0 LECCE
AC MILAN (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Calabria, Gabbia (61' Kjær), Tomori, Hernández (83' Terracciano); Adli, Reijnders (78' Bennacer); Chukwueze, Pulisic (62' Musah), Leão; Giroud (62' Jović). Subs: Nava, Sportiello; Bartesaghi, Florenzi, Simić, Terracciano; Zeroli; Okafor. Coach: Pioli.
LECCE (4-2-3-1): Falcone; Venuti (69' Gendrey), Pongračić, Baschirotto, Gallo; Blin (77' Berisha), Ramadani; Banda (46' Almqvist), González (46' Piccoli), Dorgu (85' Pierotti); Krstović. Subs: Brancolini, Samooja; Touba; Oudin, Rafia; Sansone. Coach: Gotti.
Referee: Massimi from Termoli.
Goals: 6' Pulisic (M), 20' Giroud (M), 57' Leão (M).
Booked: 34' Blin (L), 78' Chukwueze (M).
Sent-off: 45' Krstović (L).
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