FIVE‑STAR SHOW AT SAN SIRO
Serie A
There it is, a win. It had been a while, too long. Following a tricky month, AC Milan found their way back to a three-pointer as they cruised past Cagliari, winning 5-1 at San Siro. On the scoresheet for the Rossoneri: Pulisic (brace), Bennacer, Reijnders and Leão. Today's win has taken us closer to a mathematical second-place finish but, more importantly, guarantees that we will play in the next edition of the Supercoppa Italiana. Pioli's men put in a great performance; they played with commitment and pride. A dominant second-half display saw us score goals in a game for the first time this season.
Pulisic's first brace, Bennacer and Reijnders getting back on the scoresheet, the responses from Leão and Hernández, Pobega's return and a serious display from the entire team were the high notes of a tricky home game. With this win on Serie A matchday 36, the Rossoneri are on 74 points and maintained their lead in the race for second place. The remit for the night was to get some breathing room and put a tough run behind us, and we did that. Now, the focus shifts to our game against Torino next Saturday at the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino.
CHECK OUT THE GALLERY FROM AC MILAN v CAGLIARI
It was a slow start, with AC Milan patiently keeping possession and Cagliari happy to sit back. The first chances came to Florenzi: an 11th-minute volley that made the keeper work before sending over a free-kick two minutes later. We got into some good positions in the box, but wasted several opportunities. From one of these, Luvumbo broke away quickly, but Sportiello was up to the task to deny him on 24 minutes. After a lull in the game, we opened the scoring in the 35th minute: Pulisic found Chukwueze, whose effort was blocked by an onrushing Scuffet, but the ball fell to Bennacer and he made no mistake in turning home into an empty net with his left from the edge of the box. Florenzi again tried his luck on 41 minutes, but to no avail. The scoreline did not affect the visitor’s approach to the game and Prati’s effort was kept out by Sportiello in first-half added time. 1-0 at the break.
There was a triple change at half time, including Leão, who was straight into the action on 49 minutes, getting on the end of a Pulisic cross, but his effort clipped the crossbar and fell behind. There was a nervous moment in the 57th minute when Prati found space and hit a well-struck effort that Sportiello got down to well to turn behind. Leão then upped the gears and our lead was doubled in the 59th minute: driving forward, he slipped Pulisic through on goal, who expertly beat Scuffet. The Rossoblù looked to hit back immediately and on 62 minutes Sportiello stopped Deiola’s free-kick, but could do nothing a minute later to stop Nández – a nice flick finish following good work from Azzi – reduce the decifit. The Rossoneri didn’t need long though to restore the two-goal advantage and make life comfortbale: in the 74th minute, from a corner, Hernández laid the ball off for Reijnders, who unleashed a stunning right-footed effort into the bottom right-hand corner. In the closing stages, after a meleè in the box, involving Oristanio, Shomurodov and Luvumbo, caused some slight panic, the flood gates then opened: in the 83rd minute, Leão went through one-on-one, rounded the keeper and poked home to get a fourth, and then in the 86th minute Pulisic finished off with power and precision an Okafor cross to grab a fifth. Full time: 5-1.
MATCH DETAILS
AC MILAN 5-1 CAGLIARI
AC MILAN (4-3-3): Sportiello; Kalulu, Gabbia (46' Tomori), Thiaw, Florenzi (68' Hernández); Reijnders, Bennacer (84' Pobega), Musah; Chukwueze (46' Leão), Giroud (46' Okafor), Pulisic. Subs: Nava, Torriani; Calabria, Caldara, Terracciano; Adli, Zeroli; Jović. Coach: Pioli.
CAGLIARI (3-5-2): Scuffet; Zappa, Mina (88' Wieteska), Dossena (75' Azzi); Nández (75' Lapadula), Sulemana, Prati, Deiola (75' Oristanio), Obert; Luvumbo, Shomurodov (82' Kingstone). Subs: Aresti, Radunović; Di Pardo, Hatzidiakos; Mancosu, Viola; Pavoletti, Petagna. Coach: Ranieri.
Referee: Sozza from Seregno.
Goals: 35' Bennacer (M), 59' and 87' Pulisic (M), 63' Nández (C), 74' Reijnders (M), 83' Leão (M).
Booked: 28' Bennacer (M), 33' Gabbia (M), 69' Mina (C).
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