FOUR GOALS AND A HOME WIN
Serie A
Four goals and four different goalscorers saw the Rossoneri pick up their first win of the season. The team needed a night like this: they got off to a flying start at San Siro and beat Venezia 4-0 on matchday 4 in Serie A. Hernández, Fofana, Pulisic and Abraham got the goals, all of which came in a whirlwind first half of football. The boys showed quality, determination, and a hunger to dominate the game until the final whistle. The game started on the right foot for the hosts, who got their noses in front through Theo Hernández in the second minute; the Rossoneri then kept their foot on the gas and scored three more times in the first half an hour. The second half was characterised by calmness in possession and total control - another positive sign.
We must praise the aggressive and intense approach as the Rossoneri were not content to rest on their laurels after taking the one-nil lead. In the space of 13 minutes, Youssouf Fofana scored his first goal for the Rossoneri and the hosts scored twice from the spot: first Pulisic and then Tammy Abraham, who also scored his first in a Milan shirt. The performance was a convincing one overall and a result this clear wasn't guaranteed given the tricky nature of matches right after the break. Support from the fans was incessant from before kick-off and another positive was our first clean sheet of the season. Now, we move on to our next fixtures; the Rossoneri face a tough week with Liverpool coming to San Siro on Wednesday before the derby on Sunday. Keep it up!
CHECK OUT THE GALLERY FROM AC MILAN v VENEZIA
MATCH REPORT
AC Milan got off to a flying start, scoring the opener after less than 120 seconds. Theo recovered possession and played off Leão whose beautiful back-heel allowed the Frenchman to slot the ball in at the near post past Joronen to make it 1-0. Venezia tried to react with inaccurate shots from Pohjanpalo (8') and Oristanio (12'), but the Rossoneri doubled their lead in the 16th minute. Pulisic’s corner took a dangerous path and went in off Fofana. AC Milan did not slow down. In the 22nd minute, Reijnders forced Joronen to save, the keeper then took down Abraham as he went for the ball, giving away a penalty: Pulisic stepped up to the spot to beat the keeper and make it 3-0. Only a few minutes later the action repeated itself. Leão was fouled in the area by Schingtienne and Abraham stepped up for the pen. The English forward was ice-cold and beat Joronen for the fourth time in 29 minutes. Much possession after the half-hour mark and we headed to the break four up!
The pace slowed after the break. In the 47th minute, Candela went on a solo run but shot badly from the edge of the box. Two minutes later, a good move from Loftus-Cheek freed up Leão whose shot was saved by Joronen. AC Milan persisted and in the 52nd minute, Gabbia forced the visiting goalkeeper to save a header on a cross from Leão, whilst in the 68th minute, Pulisic had a go but it was sent out for a corner. In the 70th minute, Venezia managed to score through Zampano but a foul on Loftus-Cheek by Nicolussi Caviglia in the build-up saw the visiting number 14 sent off and the goal was ruled out. The numerical advantage further increased the Rossoneri threat as they maintained control of the game and managed their energy. The substitutes made for a lively final few minutes but the scoreline remained the same, it ended 4-0!
MATCH DETAILS
AC MILAN 4-0 VENEZIA
AC MILAN (4-3-3): Maignan; E. Royal, Gabbia, Pavlović, Hernández; Loftus-Cheek, Fofana (79' Zeroli), Reijnders (63' Okafor); Pulisic (79' Chukwueze), Abraham (74' Musah), Leão (63' Morata). Subs: Raveyre, Torriani; Bartesaghi, Terracciano, Tomori; Jović. Coach: Fonseca.
VENEZIA (3-4-2-1): Joronen; Idzes, Svoboda, Schingtienne; Candela, Nicolussi Caviglia, Duncan (64' Doumbia), Zampano (89' Carboni); Oristanio (64' Yeboah), Busio (79' Andersen); Pohjanpalo (79' Raimondo). Subs: Bertinato, Grandi, Stanković; Sagrado; Crnigoj, Ellertsson; El Haddad, Gytkjaer. Coach: Di Francesco.
Referee: Di Marco from Ciampino.
Goals: 2' Hernández (M), 16' Fofana (M), 25' pen. Pulisic (M), 29' pen. Abraham (M).
Booked: 28' Schingtienne (V), 38' Gabbia (M).
Sent off: 73' Nicolussi Caviglia (V).
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