New AC Milan coach Filippo Inzaghi started his tenure with a season-opening 3-1 win over Lazio on Sunday.
Filippo Inzaghi made a dream start to life as AC Milan coach with a 3-1 victory at home to Lazio on Sunday. The rossoneri endured a terrible pre-season under their new tactician, though things came together surprisingly well in their Serie A season opener.
They netted the game's opening goal less than 10 minutes into the match, when they struck Lazio on a quick counter-attack down the left. Stephan El Shaarawy found space in behind Dušan Basta out wide, before delivering a lethal ball for his teammate Keisuke Honda to slot beyond Lazio goalkeeper Etrit Berisha.
Despite the lively opening, it certainly wasn't the most entertaining half, with both sides set up to play on the break. Milan's mobile front three of El Shaarawy, Honda and Jérémy Ménez searched for space in behind the Lazio defence, and the visitors looking to break through Antonio Candreva out wide. However, they both cancelled each other out in the centre of midfield, and few opportunities were created.
At the halftime whistle, Honda's opener was Milan's only shot on target of the entire match. Lazio, too, had hit the target just once, when Candreva's effort from the edge of the box was comfortably caught by rossoneri debutant Diego López. It wasn't the most riveting start to the new season.
Lazio came out after the restart looking a little more proactive; forcing Milan deep for the first time in the match. However, their added pressure unwittingly played straight into Milan's hands, by leaving them space in behind to counter-attack into. The rossoneri made Lazio pay by doubling their advantage just short of the hour, when Sulley Muntari broke into the penalty area to prod Ignazio Abate's cross beyond Berisha.
The visitors' evening went from bad to worse within 10 minutes, when Ménez was bundled over in the penalty area by defender Stefan de Vrij, and the referee pointed to the spot. The fouled Frenchman promptly dispatched the spot-kick, seemingly wrapping up the points for the rossoneri.
However, Lazio hadn't quite given up yet. They pulled one back from nowhere three minutes later, when Candreva teased the ball into the penalty area for substitute Filip Đorđević to lash home -- albeit via a heavy deflection off defender Alex.
The goal gave Lazio extra impetus heading into the final 20 minutes, with Milan sinking deeper and deeper towards their own goal. Lazio's best chance to pull another goal back fell to Candreva from the penalty in stoppage time, after he was tripped in the box by Abate. However, his weak penalty was palmed away by López, with Milan hanging on for a 3-1 win.
It's a great start for the rossoneri under Inzaghi, but Lazio evidently still have plenty of work to do under their new coach Stefano Pioli.
AC Milan: López; Bonera, Zapata, Alex, Abate; Muntari (Essien 68'), De Jong, Poli; El Shaarawy, Ménez (Niang 82'), Honda (Armero 77').
Goals: Honda (7'), Muntari (56'), (Ménez pen. 64').
Lazio: Berisha; Radu, Cana, De Vrij, Basta; Lulić (Mauri 73'), Biglia, Parolo; Keita (Anderson 60'), Klose (Đorđević 59'), Candreva.
Goals: Alex (o.g. 67').
from SBNation.com - All Posts http://ift.tt/1qZeU7C
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