PRIMAVERA BEAT ASCOLI TO BOUNCE BACK

AC Milan Primavera returned to winning ways today, beating Ascoli to bounce back following defeats to Inter and Sampdoria. It’s a result which keeps the Rossoneri in the playoff hunt: the team now trail sixth-place Empoli by two points, with the latter set to face Inter this evening. First-half goals from Capone and Tolomello were enough to decide matters against the Bianconeri, whose captain, Alagna, saw his penalty saved by Moleri after the restart.

Despite various absences, the Rossoneri displayed great character against an Ascoli side that, despite not being of the same standard in terms of quality, very much played with pride. In addition to the two goalscorers, Riccardo Tonin’s return to action was particularly noteworthy. During the hour he spent on the pitch, he produced a solid performance after one and a half months out. Filì in defence and Saco in midfield also made positive impressions, while 18-year-old Jordan Amore made his Primavera debut. The Diavolo will return to action at 17:00 CEST on Wednesday, when they’ll face Fiorentina at Vismara in matchday 28 in the Primavera 1 division.

REPORT
There were many changes to Coach Giunti’s line-up, also due to the fact that Obaretin was suspended and Jungdal and N'Gbesso are currently away on international duty. Nevertheless, AC Milan controlled matters from the first minute, playing their game and going on the attack. The first chance came in the sixth minute, when Nasti hit the post on the counter. The Rossoneri also threatened after 20 minutes through Tolomello’s powerful right-footed long-range strike and then on the 24-minute mark, when Michelis had a go with his left foot from inside the area. A goal was seemingly on the horizon, and it duly arrived with 33 minutes on the clock, when Capone converted following a long throw-in. The Diavolo didn’t rest on their laurels and doubled their lead two minutes later through Tolomello, whose right-footed effort from the edge of the box proved to be unstoppable for Bolletta. Kerkez also had an opportunity before the half-time whistle, with his left-footed shot finishing just over the bar.

AC Milan also had the first opportunity after the restart after Tonin had picked out Nasti on the counter (53’), but the hosts weren’t about to give up. In the 61st minute, Moleri showed good reactions to keep out Re’s venomous attempt, while Filì was forced to make a goal-line clearance to deny Intinacelli five minutes later. Then, in the 73rd minute, Ferraris was penalised for a foul on Pulsoni in the box. Moleri, however, dived to his right to save Alagna’s spot-kick. It was a blow for the home side, and the Rossoneri went on to have the best chances in the closing stages, first through the duo of Capone and Michelis (83’) and then Amore (88’). It finished Ascoli 0-2 AC Milan.

SUMMARY

ASCOLI 0-2 AC MILAN 

ASCOLI (4-3-1-2): Bolletta; Pulsoni, Markovic, Alagna, Luongo; Lisi, Ceccarelli (46' Suliani), Re (63' Palazzino); Olivieri; D'Agostino (63' Riccardi), Intinacelli. Subs.: Raffaelli, Radano; D'Ainzara, Gurini, Rosolino, Colistra, Franzolini, Mangini. Coach: Seccardini.

AC MILAN (4-3-2-1): Moleri; Coubis, Michelis, Filì, Kerkez (59' Oddi); Saco, Tolomello (59' Robotti), Mionić; Tonin (59' Amore), Capone (84' Cretti); Nasti (68' Ferraris). Subs.: Pseftis, Paloschi; Pobi, Frigerio, Di Gesù. Coach: Giunti.

Referee: Kumara from Verona.
Goals: 33' Capone (M), 35' Tolomello (M)
Booked: 47' Kerkez (M), 50' Michelis (M), 55' Suliani (A), 86' Alagna (A)
Notes: 74' Moleri (M) saved Alagna's (A) penalty

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