ZEROLI AGAIN, PRIMAVERA BEATS CAGLIARI
Youth Teams
Fresh from their historic win over Ruh Lviv in the UEFA Youth League, the Rossoneri continued their form and rejoiced away in Cagliari. At Asseminello, the final result was 1-0 at the end of a tense match but managed with organisation and character by Coach Abate's boys. Compared to the European fixture, there was no change in the match-winner: a golden moment, in fact, for 18-year-old Kevin Zeroli, who scored his first goal in the championship at the end of the first half. The ability to cope with the testing moments of the match and the maturity shown by the Rossoneri - combined with the numerical superiority in the last twenty minutes of the match - did the rest.
A resounding victory, a real team performance, hard-won and obtained by fighting with tenacity until the final whistle. It is a success that is worth three huge points that came against the Rossoblù, points that drag AC Milan out of the relegation zone with 24 points in the standings. For Coach Abate's group, the objective will be to continue on the form from the recent results: the next fixture - Saturday 11 March - against Bologna at the PUMA House of Football, before participating in the UEFA Youth League quarter-finals for the first time and the home fixture against the Spanish side Atlético Madrid.
CHECK OUT THE GALLERY FROM CAGLIARI v AC MILAN
MATCH REPORT
An encouraging start from the Rossoneri, who kept Cagliari quiet and built a goal-scoring chance with Zeroli: Traorè ran down the wing and delivered it into the middle and Kevin's header went just wide in the 5th minute. It was AC Milan who dominated the contest: in the 17th minute Bozzolan crossed it in for Mangiameli's header, Iliev was miraculous in denying the Rossoneri the lead. A minute later, it was Coubis - on the next corner - and Chaka Traorè who frightened the Sardinian rearguard, without any luck. Cagliari looked close to Nava's net in the 36th minute, Palomba smashing in a header without worrying Lapo properly. In the 44th minute, AC Milan unblocked the match: Chaka freed himself on the left side and hit the crossbar, Zeroli came on in the rebound and put it away with a powerful right-footer for the deserved Rossoneri advantage. 1-0 at half-time.
The hosts got off to a strong start in the second half, but AC Milan were undeterred and tried to take advantage of breaks from Traorè and Cuenca to extend the lead. Cagliari attacked with different personnel and increased their pressing without being able to surprise the Rossoneri's organised defensive line, and in the 70th minute they became outnumbered when Belloni received a red card. The Rossoblù nevertheless tried to equalise with the newly-substituted Sulev (73rd) who tried to strike from distance, Nava dealt with it. The Rossoneri, however, controlled possession and energy, trying to find the insurance goal: in the 82nd minute Sia turned an aerial pass from Traorè on the volley but hit it without precision. The finale was one of relative suffering but no shocks: it ended 1-0.
POST MATCH COMMENTS
"We played a great first half, the boys controlled the match and played with character, creating several chances," commented Coach Abate after the away success. "We should have capitalised more effectively and closed the match sooner after the red card. In the end, due to the midweek commitment in the Youth League, we dropped a bit but we didn't risk anything. It was a match not to be misplayed and the three points are very important".
MATCH DETAILS
CAGLIARI 0-1 AC MILAN
CAGLIARI (4-3-3): Iliev; Zallu (65' Arba), Palomba, Veroli, Idrissi (83' Achour); Caddeo (65' Sulev), Carboni, Cavuoti (46' Masala); Vinciguerra, Konaté (56' Kosiqi), Belloni. Subs: Wodzicki; Coriano, Pintus, Vitale; Conti, Mameli; Deriu, Pulina. Coach: Filippi.
AC MILAN (4-3-3): Nava; Bakoune, Coubis, Simić, Bozzolan; Foglio, Stalmach (79' Malaspina), Zeroli; Cuenca (79' Sia), Mangiameli (64' Longhi), Traorè (89' Bartesaghi). Subs: Bartoccioni, Pseftis; Casali, Nsiala, Paloschi; Pluvio; Alesi. Coach: Abate.
Referee: Centi from Termini.
Goals: 44' Zeroli (M).
Booked: 15' Zallu (C), 35' Coubis (M), 58' Caddeo (C), 75' Palomba (C).
Sent-off: 70' Belloni (C).
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