SIX‑GOAL THRILLER AT SASSUOLO
Serie A
So close to a complete turnaround, but AC Milan had to settle for a point against Sassuolo. It ended 3-3 at the Mapei Stadium on Serie A matchday 32, with goals from Leão, Jović and Okafor for the Rossoneri to cancel out Pinamonti's goal and Laurienté brace, the latter having twice given the hosts a two-goal advantage. A shock start, with Sassuolo scoring twice inside ten minutes, meant that the Rossoneri were on the back foot from the off. They were unlucky, with Chukwueze having two goals disallowed for the tightest of offsides and Consigli having an excellent day, but defensive errors made life difficult.
On a hot afternoon in Reggio Emilia, we can be proud of the way the team reacted and the fighting spirit they showed to claw themselves level. The attack functioned well, creating a host of opportunities, but the defence looked more fragile than usual following a string of strong outings. Stefano Pioli rotated the squad, making seven changes to the team that started our last league game and gave precious minutes to various players. Now, it's all about recovery ahead of two tricky tests in a key week in our season. Up next, it's the second leg against Roma before the derby against Inter in Serie A on Monday. Forza ragazzi!
CHECK OUT THE GALLERY FROM SASSUOLO v AC MILAN
MATCH REPORT
AC Milan started brightly, but it was Sassuolo who opened the scoring inside four minutes with the game’s first real attacking move: Thorstvedt turned on Volpato’s cross and Pinamonti fired home. The Rossoneri felt the after-effects and the Neroverdi took advantage, doubling their lead in the 10th minute: Laurienté accelerated away and got a shot off on target, which was saved by Sportiello. The ball fell kindly to the Sassuolo forward and on the rebound he poked it home. This time, though, the away side responded. Consigli clawed the ball off the line from Thiaw’s close-range header after 13 minutes, and then Chukwueze had the ball in the back of the net but was adjudged to be offside by just millimetres after 17 minutes. But the pressure eventually paid off shortly after: on the left, Leão dribbled into the box through two players and slotted home with his right to get his side back into the game, 2-1. After a cooling break midway through the half, few other chances were created. Just before the break, Consigli was once again in the thick of the action, denying Florenzi and Hernández. Half-time.
The opening to the second half didn’t go as planned either, with Sassuolo coming out confident and finding a third in the 53rd minute, courtesy of Laurienté’s well-placed finish from in front of goal, following Defrel’s assist. On 59 minutes, the Neroverdi wasted a good opportunity on the counter and they were immediately punished at the other end: Consigli failed to parry away Leão’s cross into the box and Jović was there to turn it home into an empty net to make it 3-2. AC Milan then pushed forward with urgency: Chukwueze jumped for joy in the 63rd minute, but his well-executed left-footed effort with the outside of the boot into the far corner, from a tight angle, was once again disallowed for offside, while Pulisic linked up well with Adli only for the American to find his well-struck shot on target saved by the home side's goalkeeper. It was all AC Milan and in the 84th minute Okafor sparked the comeback to make it 3-3, firing home from just a few yards out following a corner. But the final onslaught failed to bring the Rossoneri the winner they were looking for and the game ended on level terms.
MATCH DETAILS
SASSUOLO 3-3 AC MILAN
SASSUOLO (4-2-3-1): Consigli; Toljan (9' Tressoldi), Erlić, Ferrari, Viti; Boloca (77' Račić), Obiang; Volpato (46' Defrel), Thorstvedt (62' Henrique), Laurienté (77' Ceide); Pinamonti. Subs: Cragno, Pegolo; Doig, Kumbulla, Missori; Lipani; Bajrami, Mulattieri. Coach: Ballardini.
AC MILAN (4-2-3-1): Sportiello; Florenzi, Kjær (55' Gabbia), Thiaw, Hernández; Adli (82' Okafor), Musah (55' Reijnders); Chukwueze (65' Pulisic), Loftus-Cheek (55' Giroud), Leão; Jović. Subs: Nava, Raveyre; Calabria, Terracciano, Tomori; Bennacer, Zeroli. Coach: Pioli.
Referee: Massa from Imperia.
Goals: 4' Pinamonti (S), 10' Laurienté (S), 20' Leão (M), 53' Laurienté (S), 59' Jović (M), 84' Okafor (M).
Booked: 19' Ferrari (S), 57' Tressoldi (S), 68' Thiaw (M), 69' Pinamonti (S).
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