NARROW WIN AWAY TO MONZA: 1‑0
Serie A
The Rossoneri recorded a narrow but vital victory tonight. November got off to a good start for AC Milan, who beat Monza at the Brianteo on Serie A matchday 11. It ended 1-0 to us thanks to a Tijjani Reijnders goal late in the first half. Fonseca's men then held firm to defend their lead in a less action-packed second 45 minutes. With greater control over the game and more chances in attack (and fewer conceded to the hosts), we can say it is a deserved win, and the three points bring us back up the table and will restore confidence in the team.
Reijnders, who put in a solid performance in the centre of the park, scored his first league goal of the season following a brace against Club Brugge in the Champions League. At the back, Mike Maignan was in inspired form and led the way for the defenders in front of him. Other positives on the night came in the shape of Hernández's solid display and a show of sacrifice and dedication from Pulisic and Morata, who dropped deep to contribute in defence and recover possession. So, positive signs ahead of our next two away fixtures, starting with the trip to one of football's great venues, the Santiago Bernabéu, to take on Real Madrid on Tuesday night.
CHECK OUT THE GALLERY FROM MONZA v AC MILAN
MATCH REPORT
We started with two promising chances - first Chukwueze and then through a Morata-Hernández link-up - but the first quarter of an hour saw the hosts go close to an opener, particularly in the 15th minute through Maldini. After a difficult beginning to proceedings, AC Milan started to get into it and Okafor had a big chance in the 20th minute but his powerful shot was collected by Turati. Another chance came for Noah in the 22nd minute, picked out by Theo on the restart, but the game remained goalless. Maignan employed his cat-like reflexes on Maldini in the 25th minute and Pereira in the 28th. The Milanista response came in the form of a chance for Fofana in the 37th minute but the decisive moment was as the clock ticked down to half-time. In the 43rd minute, Pulisic broke away and crossed for Morata, his finish was stopped by Izza but Reijnders picked it up on the rebound to head home and make it 1-0.
The second half started off without much pace though both sides brought a lot of intensity without making many attacking runs. Chukwueze pressed forwards in the 59th minute but Marí closed down the Rossoneri going for Sammy’s cross. Good play between Reijnders and substitute Leão in the 64th minute, but the ball ended up out of play. Theo made a great run in the 67th minute but Turati punched away to deny us a second goal. In the following minutes, both sides took turns on the ball but both goalkeepers remained taskless: Bondo and Vignato didn’t trouble Maignan whilst Morata’s header in the 84th minute went over the bar. Good initiative from Leão as he skipped two men and went for goal but the ball ended up in Turati’s arms. Rafa went close again in the 90th minute having picked up a cross from Musah in the middle. Little happened in the six minutes added on, it ended 1-0 to AC Milan!
MATCH DETAILS
MONZA 0-1 AC MILAN
MONZA (3-4-2-1): Turati; Izzo, Pablo Marí, A. Carboni (78' Caprari); P. Pereira (65' D'Ambrosio), Bondo (87' Valoti), Bianco, Kyriakopoulos; Maldini, Mota (65' Vignato); Djurić (78' Marić). Subs: Mazza, Pizzagnacco; Birindelli, Caldirola, Postiglione; Ciurria, Pessina. Coach: Nesta.
AC MILAN (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Terracciano (89' Calabria), Thiaw, Pavlović, Hernández; Fofana, Reijnders; Chukwueze (81' Loftus-Cheek), Pulisic (89' Musah), Okafor (63' Leão); Morata. Subs: Sportiello, Torriani; E. Royal, Tomori; Abraham, Camarda. Coach: Fonseca.
Referee: Feliciani from Teramo.
Goal: 43' Reijnders (Mi).
Booked: 47' Morata (Mi), 52' Djurić (Mo), 83' Bondo (Mo).
Sent-off: 56' Leal (Mi).
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