A lucky, mishit volley by Sulley Muntari and Keisuke Honda's wonderful free kick put AC Milan back on the winning track with a 2-0 victory on Saturday. It wasn't a performance to remember, but a win is a win. Chievo Verona did what everyone expected them to -- sat back and waited for their chance. And when that chance did come, the Flying Donkeys failed to take it.
AC Milan vs. Chievo Verona: Final score 2-0, Rossoneri improve in second half
Milan’s second-half performance was enough to record its first win after three games and first clean sheet of the season against a weak Chievo side.
Maurizio Lagana
Milan had most of the ball in the first half, but didn’t really know what to do with it, failing to hurt Chievo who were more than happy to sit back. The visitors did try to break quickly on couple of occasions, but weren’t doing it consistently enough to worry Milan. The first 45 minutes of the game will be quickly forgotten by everyone.
Filippo Inzaghi must have not been happy about what he saw, because Milan got on the pitch in the second half with much more intent to open the scoreline. They had a couple of chances, through Jeremy Menez and Fernando Torres, but Chievo's defense was more successful. But in the 54th minute, Keisuke Honda crossed the ball in from the right, indirectly leading to the opening goal. Cristiano Biraghi's clearance turned into a perfect, though involuntary assist for Muntari on the edge of the box. The midfielder mishit the volley into the ground, but luckily for him and his teammates, the ball ended in the back of the net.
The rossoneri started dominating even more after they took the lead. But in the midst of Milan’s attacks, the Flying Donkeys almost equalized. Muntari was dispossessed by Dejan Lazarevic on Chievo’s half. It was a clear three-on-one counter attack for the visitors, but the Slovenian, after running with ball for 70 meters, misplaced his pass into Adil Rami’s feet. Only a few minutes later, Milan doubled their lead. Stephen El Shaarawy was fouled 20 meters from the goal. Honda sent in a curling shot over the wall, into the lower right corner of Francesco Bardi’s goal, putting the game beyond doubt.
AC Milan: Abbiati; Abate, Alex, Rami, De Sciglio; Muntari (Essien 89’), De Jong, Bonaventura; Honda (Poli 78’), Torres (El Shaarawy 74’), Menez
Goals: Muntari 54’, Honda 76’
Chievo Verona: Bardi; Frey, Dainelli, Zukanović, Biraghi; Radovanović, Cofie (Bellomo 81’), Hetemaj; Birsa (Lazarević 66’); Paloschi, Maxi Lopez (Meggiorini 72’)
See More:
