Milan 4, Verona 1: Effective

There’s a word that’s been missing when describing this Milan squad since the International Break, really. That word is effective. Today they stayed focused and put the game to bed early and thoroughly. Granted, they did concede that pesky goal. But the word is “effective,” not “perfect.” And effective was enough to get 3 points.

So this happened.

After a quick Locatelli foul, the Suso show began. He was brilliant, I love when he plays like that, and in the tenth minute, it payed off: his cross to Calhanoglu was the first goal of the match. 1-0 Milan. The ball did take a wicked deflection off of Heurtaux. But it was given to Calhanoglu.

Next up was the boy wonder, Cutrone. After a brief dry spell in the goal count, he threaded the ball past his defender and in between Silvestri and the post to make it 2-0 Milan. It was a great goal, and he looked pretty relieved to have found the back of the net again, too.

You gotta be careful. Ibra injured himself fist pumping like that.

But the goal you would not believe unless you saw it with your own eyes was Abate’s in the 49th minute. Not only was it his first goal since 2015, it was his first Milan goal at the San Siro ever. And wow, was it a screamer. I guess with all of the rumors of him leaving for the MLS and also with Yonghong Li there in the stands, he decided to impress. 3-0 Milan.

After Verona’s defense nearly deflected the ball into their net again in the 65th, this time on a Locatelli shot and this time with a super save from Silvestri, Musacchio got the only card of the match. It was a yellow for protesting, I guess he’s trying too hard to be like Bonucci.

The heavens opened and they gave us Cutrone

In the 85th, it was Lee who scored for Verona, making the score 3-1 for Milan. A shame to concede like that, but Milan were definitely slowing down by that point. However, Borini, the most fit Milan player ever, refused to stop after being subbed on in the 58th, and he scored in the 89th from a brilliant Bonaventura cross. 4-1 Milan.

Have you ever seen a more fit Milan player?

Sadly, this result marks the end of this stay in Serie A for the most historic club in Verona. But they enjoyed their 3-0 league victory over us in December, and they certainly didn’t end up in 19th spot overnight. Milan, on the other hand, live to fight another couple of games in hopes for an automatic Europa League berth. Oh, and I think I heard something about some Coppa Italia final coming up this week against Juventus? For today’s win, Milan did enough. But to win that trophy, they’ll need to be more than just effective.

This post inspired by the music of Morrissey’s “Spent the Day In Bed”

Our next match is the

Coppa Italia Final

Juventus vs. Milan

Wednesday, May 9^th • 21:00 CEST (3pm EDT)