A PROFESSIONAL PERFORMANCE IN FRIULI
Serie A
AC Milan produced an impressive display to win 2-0 in Udine on Serie A Matchday 8, with goals from Pulisic and Hutchinson securing a second consecutive league victory. The Rossoneri struck once in each half: Chris scored his second goal of the season early on, courtesy of a magnificent assist from Modrić, before Omari opened his AC Milan account midway through the second half. It was a thoroughly deserved win that could have come by an even greater margin. Following the midweek defeat in Bournemouth, the team responded with character and confidence despite a lengthy list of absentees (Saelemaekers, P. Terracciano, Gabbia, Chukwueze, Gila, Moreira, and Rabiot).
Sankhoun Diawara made his first start on the left side of defense. His disciplined display, with some positive moments going forward, gave Bartesaghi the freedom to push into attack. Davide also impressed, making plenty of surging runs and contributing consistently in both attack and defense. The win moves the team to 18 points from eight games and keeps its unbeaten league record intact. League action resumes in less than 72 hours with the midweek clash against Bologna at San Siro. Rest and recovery are now the priorities: the team is on the right track, but the schedule offers no respite.
CHECK OUT THE PHOTO GALLERY FROM UDINESE vs. AC MILAN
MATCH REPORT
Amorim set the team up in a 4-4-1-1, handing Sankhoun Diawara his first start and deploying Davide Bartesaghi in midfield. A moment of inspiration from Modrić sent Pulisic through on Okoye, and a precise right-footed finish put AC Milan 1-0 up after six minutes. The lively Pulisic then picked out Bartesaghi’s run into space, but the No. 33 fired over with his left foot. Another superb Modrić through ball released Tomori in the 26th minute, but Bartesaghi and Pulisic got in each other’s way and could not turn in his low cross. Udinese improved as halftime approached and had a couple of attempts from distance, but the Rossoneri threatened again in the 45th minute when Abankwah intervened at the last moment to thwart Bartesaghi.
The second half came to life on the hour mark when Pulisic combined with Bartesaghi, only to see his shot saved by Okoye. Moments later, Ramos curled an effort just over from the edge of the box. The pressure eventually told: Okoye could not hold Jashari’s fierce left-footed strike from the edge of the area, and Hutchinson pounced on the rebound for a deserved 2-0 lead. Ramos nearly made it 3-0 in the 74th minute, only for Okoye to show brilliant reflexes and tip his shot onto the crossbar. Gonçalo went close again soon after, sending an effort just wide with Okoye rooted to the spot. Cisse, fresh off the bench, also threatened with a curling right-footed shot that went narrowly wide. It finished 2-0, securing the Rossoneri’s second consecutive Serie A victory.
MATCH DETAILS
UDINESE 0-2 AC MILAN
UDINESE (3-4-2-1): Okoye; Abankwah, Palma, Kabasele; Vojvoda (63' Zaniolo), Karlström (83' Lovrić), Piotrowski (46' Miller), Kamara (63' Arizala); Ekkelenkamp, Chakvetadze; Davis (83' Vinciati). Subs.: Mrozek, Padelli; Bertola, Ebosse; Gómez, Zarraga; Jovanović. Coach: Runjaić.
AC MILAN (4-4-1-1): Maignan; Tomori (73' Musah), De Winter, Pavlović, Diawara; Hutchinson (73' Loftus-Cheek) (91' Comotto), Modrić, Jashari; Bartesaghi (85' A. Cisse); Pulisic; Ramos (91' Camarda). Subs.: Bouyer, Torriani; M. Cissé, Estupiñan, Perera, F. Terracciano, Vladimirov; Vos; Menon, Ossola. Coach: Amorim.
Referee: Marcenaro from Genoa.
Goals: 6' Pulisic (M), 65' Hutchinson (M).
Booked: 38' Ramos (M), 43' Karlström (U), 90' Modrić (M).
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