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 9th
• 21:00 CEST (3pm EDT)