The Rossoneri's growth continues. This was clearly on show in Cardiff as Coach Giampaolo's side produced a convincing performance. In their final fixture in the ICC 2019, AC Milan can be pleased with the good impression they made against Manchester United, who will start their league campaign next week. At the Principality Stadium, the Rossoneri lost 5-4 on penalties after a 2-2 draw in normal time. There were chances and goals in what was a hard-fought and spectacular match, with the Diavolo managing to come back from a losing position and control the game for long spells. The team, who produced a solid display both with the ball and without it, were inventive and showed quality, good pieces of play and a desire to put in the hard work. This really was an excellent team performance, with many individuals also shining: from Suso (a key player in general and the man who grabbed the Rossoneri's equaliser) through to Borini and Calabria. Bonaventura's return is also something to be noted. With their tour in America and Wales now over, AC Milan return home having shown many positive signs. They can feel more certain about themselves safe in the knowledge that this new Rossoneri side is clearly improving. Carry on what you're doing, lads!
CHECK OUT THE GALLERY FROM MANCHESTER UNITED V AC MILAN
THE MATCH
AC Milan looked to control possession early on but the first efforts on goal came from Manchester United through Pereira and Rashford after nine and twelve minutes respectively. Rashford gave Manchester United the lead with 14 minutes on the clock: the English striker received the ball on the left before cutting inside and firing home with his right foot. Suso then took centre stage, first curling a shot just wide after 25 minutes before then levelling the match with 26 minutes on the clock: the Spaniard received Borini's pass and then went on to find the corner of the goal with a precise left-footed strike from the edge of the box. The Diavolo were the team in control, with Krzysztof Piątek threatening after 30, 39 and 44 minutes. After the restart, the Polish striker could have given the Rossoneri the lead after beating the offside trap, but his effort from inside the box in the 50th minute lacked power and David De Gea comfortably claimed. After Manchester United threatened through Marcos Rojo and Pereira, AC Milan grabbed their second of the game on the hour mark: Suso was once again heavily involved as he whipped in a dangerous ball, with Castillejo diverting the ball into the back of the net with his head via a deflection off Lindelof. In the 72nd minute, the Red Devils drew level: Lingard got the better of Musacchio and fired past Reina with a low strike. In added time, prior to penalies, Fred's free kick sailed over the bar.
MATCH SUMMARY
MANCHESTER UNITED 2-2 AC MILAN (5-4 on penalties)
MANCHESTER UNITED (4-2-3-1): De Gea; Wan-Bissaka (65' Young), Lindelof, Rojo (65' Tuanzebe), Shaw; Matic (65' Fred), McTominay; A. Pereira (65' Lingard), Mata (64' James), Rashford (82' Gomes); Martial (82' Greenwood). Subs: Grant, Romero; Dalot, Jones, Smalling; Chong. Coach: Solskjær.
AC MILAN (4-3-1-2): Donnarumma (64' Reina); Calabria (77' Conti), Musacchio, Romagnoli (77' Brescianini), Rodríguez (77' Strinić); Borini (77' Gabbia), Biglia (64' Krunić), Çalhanoğlu; Suso (77' Bonaventura); Castillejo (64' André SIlva), Piątek (77' Maldini). Subs: A. Donnarumma; Mionić; Leão. Coach: Giampaolo.
Referee: Iwan Griffith.
Goals: 14' Rashford (MU), 26' Suso (M), 60' o.g. Lindelof (M), 72' Lingard (MU).
Booked: 90' Çalhanoğlu (M).
PK sequence: Çalhanoğlu (M) goal, Lingard (MU) goal, Bonaventura (M) goal, Young (MU) goal, André Silva (M) goal, Greenwood (MU) goal, Krunić (M) goal, Gomes (MU) goal, Maldini (M) saved, James (MU) goal.
A reminder that applications for season tickets for the 2019/20 season are still open. You can also buy tickets to Milan v Brescia, our first home game in the new Serie A season.