VICTORY IN VENICE
Serie A
AC Milan were victorious in the lunchtime kick-off and closed out the month of April in style. The Rossoneri came away from the Penzo with all three points thanks to a vital 2-0 win against Venezia and, in the process, put the defeat to Atalanta behind them and built on the Coppa Italia triumph over Inter. It was the all-CONCACAF show in Venice, as Christian Pulisic scored early on (he now has ten goals and ten assists in Serie A this season) and Santiago Gimenez added a second in stoppage time.
Two midfielders, Fofana and Reijnders, provided the assists. The pair proved, once again, that they are key figures in the new-look 3-4-3 system. It wasn't all plain sailing on the lagoon, however, as Venezia made life difficult for the Rossoneri, given that the hosts were desperate for points in the relegation battle. All in all, though, it was a good win at a tough ground where plenty of big teams have struggled this season, and the team kept another clean sheet. Now, the Rossoneri have a full week to rest and recover; they are back in action next Monday when they take on Genoa at the Marassi. Forza ragazzi!
CHECK OUT THE GALLERY FROM VENEZIA v AC MILAN
MATCH REPORT
After a lively start to the match, it took just five minutes for us to take the lead: after Venezia had given the ball away, Jiménez found Fofana, who played it through to Pulisic to score with his left foot. The hosts tried to respond through Busio and Nicolussi Caviglia, but the Rossoneri quickly regained control and possession. In the 22nd minute, a Venezia counter-attack ended with Zerbin firing narrowly off target. There was another scare two minutes later as Yeboah’s cross-shot dangerously rolled across the face of goal. Theo had a go from distance - without success - while a free-kick from Nicolussi Caviglia then went narrowly wide (33’). Before the half-time whistle, both teams had a goal ruled out for offside (Yeboah and Pulisic), and Maignan was in place to save another Nicolussi Caviglia free-kick.
The second half began in uneventful fashion, even if it remained a very intense match. Zerbin stopped Leão in his tracks in the 51st minute, while a long-range effort from Abraham finished over the bar (62’). Coach Conceição made his first changes, after which Gimenez sent a header wide (71’). Three minutes later, Loftus-Cheek failed to keep his effort down from the edge of the area. Venezia were trying to push for an equaliser, leaving space for the Rossoneri to counter. In the 89th minute, Zerbin shot narrowly over from distance, while Gytkjær and Oristanio also had attempts at goal. However, the scoreline didn’t change until Reijnders played it over the top for Gimenez, who lobbed Radu to seal our 15th win in Serie A this season.
MATCH DETAILS
VENEZIA 0-2 AC MILAN
VENEZIA (3-5-2): Radu; Schingtienne (64' Marcandalli), Idzes, Candé; Zerbin, Busio (64' Kike Pérez), Nicolussi Caviglia, Conde (67' Oristanio), Haps (80' Zampano); Fila (64' Gytkjær), Yeboah. Subs: Grandi, Joronen, Stanković; Carboni, Šverko; Bjarkason, Doumbia, Duncan; Ladisa, Marić. Coach: Di Francesco.
AC MILAN (3-4-3): Maignan; Tomori, Gabbia, Pavlović; Jiménez (70' Walker), Fofana (87' Terracciano), Reijnders, Hernández; Pulisic (87' João Félix), Abraham (64' Gimenez), Leão (70' Loftus-Cheek). Subs: Sportiello, Torriani; Florenzi, Thiaw; Bondo, Musah; Chukwueze, Jović, Sottil. Coach: Conceição.
Referee: Manganiello from Pinerolo.
Goals: 5' Pulisic (M), 90'+6 Gimenez (M).
Booked: 55' Candé (V).
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