THE ROSSONERE BEATEN BY SASSUOLO
Women
In Fiorenzuola d'Arda, it was AC Milan's first match in the new Serie A Women’s Cup: our opening game was against Spugna's Sassuolo, and this was alright an important match-up as the tournament's format means that only first and second progress: in the other match of our group, Roma won 2-4 in Terni. After a great season of growth last year, the Rossonere are determined to do well. We also celebrated Laura Giuliani's 100th Rossonere appearance.
However, it didn't go to plan in practice: Sassuolo were more firm, and while AC Milan had a lot of the ball, they created very little against a well-organised Neroverdi defence. The game finished 0-2, making it more difficult for the Rossonere to keep their spot in the Women's Cup. Our next game will be Roma v AC Milan on Saturday 6 September (a must-win), before then closing out the group stage at home to Ternana: we must head into both games with courage and take points in order to stay in contention.
CHECK OUT THE GALLERY FROM AC MILAN v SASSUOLO
MATCH REPORT
A balanced start: it was a rather tame first 45, with AC Milan controlling the ball but without posing much of a threat. Sassuolo, however, got going pretty fast, and the Rossonere defence had to pay attention, with Giuliani making two key saves. The only real chance of the half came in the 18th minute: Van Dooren won the loose ball and found Renzotti, the Rossonera's effort was deflected behind for a corner off Durand. In the 20th minute, Van Dooren's effort from the edge of the box went wide. In the 25th minute, Grimshaw won the ball off Brustia, and Ijeh tried her luck: her effort was too central and Durand was able to respond. It ended 0-0 at the break.
At the start of the second period, Sorelli was injured and stretchered off, with Cesarini replacing her. AC Milan applied the pressure for the first 15 minutes, and the momentum was favouring the Rossonere: in the 55th minute, Arrigoni's effort earned us a corner. However, Sassuolo began to get really dangerous: in the 66th minute, Celland missed a one-on-one with Giuliani. AC Milan were slightly knocked by this and Sassuolo made the most of it: in the 71st minute, Skupień got down the left and crossed to the back post, all Clelland had to do was tap it in. And she did, making it 0-1. We looked to react in the 75th minute, with Ijeh beating Durand following Mascarello's pinpoint pass, but Nash made the save. The end was all about the Neroverdi's counter-attacking: 82nd minute, Poje Mihelič from range, Giuliani saves; 84th and 85th minute, Dhont had two chances, then in the 87th minute, Missipo had full control in a 2v1 scenario and set up Dhont at just the right time: 0-2. In the 94th minute, Ijeh looked to equalise, but her effort soared over. After seven minutes of injury time, the match ended 0-2.
MATCH DETAILS
AC MILAN 0-2 SASSUOLO
AC MILAN (4-3-3): Giuliani; Koivisto, Sorelli (51' Cesarini), de Sanders, Arrigoni (63' Soffia); Cernoia, Mascarello, van Dooren; Renzotti, Ijeh, Grimshaw. Subs: Estévez, Tornaghi; Donolato, Keijzer; Appiah, Arboleda. Coach: Bakker.
SASSUOLO (3-4-1-2): Durand; Nash, Caiazzo, Philtjens; Brustia, Doms, Missipo, Skupień; Poje Mihelič (90'+1 Hagemann); Galabadaarachchi (73' Filis), Clelland (73' Dhont). Subs: Benz, De Bona; De Rita, Fercocq, Pellinghelli, Santoro, Venturelli; Girotto, Sabatino. Coach: Spugna.
Refree: Cerea from Bergamo.
Goal: 71' Clelland (S), 87'st Dhont (S).
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