DEFEAT AT THE FRANCHI
Serie A
A difficult and sub-par game. AC Milan lost 2-1 to Fiorentina in Florence following an eventful 90 minutes of football. Pulisic's equaliser wasn't enough and goals from former AC Milan man Adli and Guðmundsson were enough for the Viola to claim victory on Serie A matchday 7. There were no fewer than three penalty saves tonight, first to deny Kean, then Hernández and Abraham. It all happened at the Franchi tonight; the Rossoneri didn't give up after the two mistakes from the spot and pulled themselves level in a tough encounter. The Viola then, however, got their noses back in front.
The Rossoneri wanted to bounce back following their defeat to Leverkusen and to go on a run of form, but their winning run in the league came to an end at the hands of Fiorentina. There was no shortage of spirit but a bit of concentration was lacking; a tough and turbulent first half gave way to a more open second half, but they weren't clinical enough. The positives of the night came in the form of Pulisic's fourth goal in four straight games and the team's reaction to adversity, as well as Magic Mike Maignan. A win would have been hugely important for the standings; now we go into the international break, in which we will get down to hard work. Avanti Milan.
CHECK OUT THE GALLERY FROM FIORENTINA v AC MILAN
MATCH REPORT
With AC Milan keeping possession early on, the first chance of the match arrived after quarter of an hour: Emerson Royal sent in a dangerous cross for Morata, who headed narrowly wide. Colpani fired over in the 17th minute, before Fiorentina were awarded a penalty two minutes later for a foul by Hernández on Dodô in the box. Kean stepped up to take it, but Maignan went the right way, keeping Milan on level terms. Leão threatened on the half-hour mark, but it was the Viola who took the lead after 35 minutes: Adli cut inside and let fly with a curling effort that hit the post on its way in. Quick combination play followed in the 44th minute, leading to Reijnders being brought down by Ranieri in the area. Hernández took the resulting penalty, but De Gea kept it out. Half-time.
The second half kicked off with the same intensity. In the 54th minute, Kean was penalised for a foul on Gabbia and AC Milan were awarded another spot-kick. However, De Gea again went the right way, thwarting Abraham. The Rossoneri didn’t let their heads drop and found an equaliser on the hour mark: Theo Hernández picked out Pulisic with a deep cross, and the US international produced a smart volleyed finish to level matters. Fiorentina responded well, with Kean firing off target twice (64 and 70’). At the other end, De Gea foiled Abraham, who had been played in by Pulisic. In the 73rd minute, the Rossoneri defence was caught out as Kean knocked on a long ball forward for Guðmundsson, who then fired past Maignan. Led by Chukwueze, AC Milan attacked the Fiorentina goal in the closing stages, but the Viola held firm. There was also time for Kean to hit the bar with a powerful strike in stoppage time. It finished 2-1 to the hosts.
MATCH DETAILS
FIORENTINA 2-1 AC MILAN
FIORENTINA (4-3-2-1): De Gea; Dodô, Comuzzo, Ranieri, Gosens; Adli (77' Biraghi), Cataldi (67' Richardson), Bove; Colpani (90'+3 Kayode), Guðmundsson (77' Kouame); Kean. Subs: Martinelli, Terracciano; Moreno, Parisi, Quarta; Beltrán, Ikoné, Sottil. Coach: Palladino.
AC MILAN (4-4-2): Maignan; E. Royal, Gabbia, Tomori, Hernández; Pulisic (82' Chukwueze), Fofana, Reijnders, Leão (73' Okafor); Abraham, Morata. Subs: Raveyre, Torriani; Jiménez, Pavlović, Terracciano, Thiaw; Musah, Zeroli; Camarda. Coach: Fonseca.
Referee: Pairetto from Nichelino.
Goals: 35' Adli (F), 60' Pulisic (M), 73' Guðmundsson (F).
Booked: 8' Dodô (F), 24' Tomori (M), 31' Fonseca (M), 43' Morata (M), 72' Reijnders (M), 90'+5 Bove (F).
Sent off: 85' Palladino (F), Hernández (M) after full time.
Notes: 22' Maignan (M) saves Kean's (F) penalty, 45'+1 De Gea (F) saves Hernández's (M) penalty, 56' De Gea (F) saves Abraham's (M) penalty.
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