DRAW FOR THE PRIMAVERA SIDE AGAINST MONZA
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At the Sportitalia Village in Brianza, AC Milan made a comeback to draw with Monza 2-2. For Giovanni Renna's side, two long-range strikes from La Mantia and Plazzotta didn't secure a win. Following the 0-1 win in Cremona, the Rossoneri stayed consistent and showed character, but still missed out on their first home win of the season. Renna's game plan is clear: controlled possession, intense pressing, and constant midfield runs. Today's play placed the two scorers in the spotlight: La Mantia and Plazzotta.
AC Milan played the game in line with their own strategy: clean and controlled passing led by Pandolfi and immediate ball recovery from Scotti and Ossola placed constant pressure on Monza, who struggled to leave their own half for a lot of the match. Despite creating more opportunities thanks to these tactical strengths, with Bouyer rarely challenged, the Rossoneri paid the price for two examples of Monza's clinical finishing. The points from today move them up in the standings, keeping the Rossoneri close to the top on ten points. Next match: an away clash against Atalanta.
CHECK OUT THE GALLERY FROM AC MILAN v MONZA
MATCH REPORT
A positive start in Carate Brianza: Milan Primavera push up the pitch and create opportunities right off the bat. In the 11th minute, Castiello runs down the left and crosses to Scotti, but can't find the captain as the ball sails too high. Just two minutes later, Scotti poses another threat as he links up with Ossola, then with Castiello, and finishes with an outside-foot shot that brushes past Monza's post. In the 15th minute, Monza respond with a free kick from Attinasi, but Bouyer keeps his composure. The Rossoneri had another opportunity in the 30th minute, Plazzotta finds Pandolfi, whose left-footed shot drifts wide. Two minutes later, Ossola delivers a cross that Perera heads on, but the ball sails over the crossbar. Despite lots of opportunities, the score remains unchanged at the end of the first half, 0-0.
The second half gets off to an eventful start as just a minute in, AC Milan take the lead with their first shot: a powerful long-range strike from La Mantia finds the top corner for 1-0. Monza had not yet tested Bouyer responded in the 53rd minute with Fogliaro's cross and Ballabio's finish to make it 1-1 with the visitor's first real chance. The Rossoneri attack in waves: in the 54th minute, Scotti tests Stranjar, and just nine minutes later, Ossola's shot is pushed over the bar by the fingertips of Monza's goalkeeper. In the 64th minute, a corner sees two failed opportunities for Pandolfi, with Stranjar deflecting the second attempt onto the post. In the 76th minute, Mout sends in a corner kick, a scramble follows, and Azarovs finds the net to make an unexpected 1-2 lead for Monza. AC Milan push for the equaliser, and the final moments are tense. In the 88th minute, Scotti's bicycle kick is denied, followed by several shots that never truly test the goalkeeper. Finally, in the 89th minute, Plazzotta unleashes a powerful left-footed strike into the top corner to make it 2-2. In added time, a Monza counter with Fardin tries Milan, but the match ends level.
MATCH DETAILS
AC MILAN 2-2 MONZA
MILAN (4-3-3): Bouyer; Nolli, Zukić, Colombo, Perera; La Mantia (85' Zaramella), Pandolfi (77 Mancioppi), Plazzotta; Scotti, Castiello (71 Samb), Ossola. A disp.: Faccioli; Cullotta, Del Forno, Pagliei, Tartaglia, Vechiu; Cissé; Petrone. All.: Renna.
MONZA (3-5-2): Strajnar; Villa, Albè, Azarovs; De Bonis (65' Scaramelli), Ballabio, Mout (90' Castelli), Diene, Attinasi (90' Fardin); Zanni (46' Gaye), Fogliaro (75' Romanini). A disp: Montagna; Bagnaschi, Porta; Bonaiuto, Ganci, Rossini. All.: Zenoni.
Refree: Giuseppe Rispoli di Locri
Goal: 46' La Mantia (Mi), 53' Ballabio (Mo), 76' Azarovs (Mo), 89' Plazzotta (Mi)
Booked: 58' Azarovs (Mo)
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