ItalyIsmael Bennacer’s only goal early in the second half helped Milan to a 1-0 win over Cagliari in the 30th round of Serie A on 19 March.
Third match in a row Milan won 1-0 in Serie A. Their attack has only scored four goals in the last five matches, including a goalless draw with Inter in the Italian Cup. A minimal win brings maximum efficiency for Stefano Pioli’s team. They have 66 points after 30 games, three points clear of second team Napoli and six behind Inter.
Milan scored 56 goals in 30 Serie A games this season. Photo: Football-Italy
Milan beat Cagliari – a team racing to stay relegated – right after the opening. Olivier Giroud squandered a chance to open the scoring in the 7th minute with a strike in front of an empty goal. Five minutes later, Franck Kessie’s shot from distance hit the post and Brahim Diaz failed to score against the goalkeeper from a tight angle.
Cagliari did not appear much despite the cheers of tens of thousands of home supporters. At the end of the first half, they had their first significant shot from the feet of Alberto Grassi, but the ball went wide of the post. The owners of the Sardinia Arena have won just one of the last five games, before accepting Milan.
The pressure was increased by the visitors early in the second half, as full-backs Theo Hernandez and Davide Calabria rose like wings. In the first five minutes, Hernandez created two chances to score, one of which was a long shot from 25 yards, forcing goalkeeper Alessio Cragno to punch the ball to save. Nine minutes after this opportunity, Milan opened the scoring thanks to a volley from Ismael Bennacer. The Algeria midfielder accepted Giroud’s release from the edge of the box, then flicked a touch into the far corner to bring down Cragno.
Milan have 8 games left to quench their thirst for the championship which has been going on since 2011. Photo: Sky
For the second time in history, Milan have scored in 15 consecutive away games, after the first time in the 1967-1968 season they won the championship. Coach Pioli’s side slowed down after taking the lead but still created more waves in the net. If Giroud saves his shot in the box, Milan can double the lead.
Heavy rain at the end of the match made it difficult for Cagliari to mobilize the ball. They had only one shot on target in this match, from Joao Pedro’s continued strike in the 69th minute. Six minutes later, the Brazilian received the ball 11 meters in front of goal but his shot was just over the bar. The home side also narrowly avoided missing out on a second goal in the 83rd minute, as goalkeeper Cragno settled the situation for Calabria.
In the last minute of the game, striker Leonardo Pavoletti headed the ball into the net and hit the crossbar, squandering a chance to equalize for Cagliari. Milan maintained the minimum score until the end of time, becoming the first team to reach 20 Serie A wins this season.
Troops:
Cagliari: Alessio Cragno; Giorgio Altare, Matteo Lovato, Edoardo Goldaniga; Charalampos Lykogiannis, Dalbert (Zappa 75′), Alberto Grassi (Balde 82′), Razvan Marin, Raoul Bellanova (Pereiro 82′); Joao Pedro, Leonardo Pavoletti
AC Milan: Mike Mainnan; Davide Calabria, Pierre Kalulu, Fikayo Tomori, Theo Hernandez; Franck Kessie, Ismail Bennacer; Junior Messias (Saelemaekers 78′), Brahim Diaz (Krunic 71′), Rafael Leao (Rebic 71′); Olivier Giroud
Vy Anh
at Blogtuan.info – Source: vnexpress.net – Read the original article here
