Silvio Berlusconi Trophy to Milan: Monza beaten on penalties
Silvio Berlusconi Trophy: Milan-Monza 1-1, 6-5 on penalties
Milan won the first edition of the Silvio Berlusconi Trophy, beating host Monza on penalties in the match played Tuesday night at the home of the Brianzoli, at the ‘U-Power Stadium’. 1-1 the result at the triple whistle, the lottery of shots from the penalty spot rewarded the Rossoneri who never missed and won 6-5.
The first goal of the match is also Milan’s: it is scored by Christian Pulisic, who in the 29th minute had a penalty kick parried by Di Gregorio, but was quick to recover the rejected ball and deposit it in the net. The equalizer came just 3 minutes later: a sprint by Carlos Augusto and a pass to Colpani, who received behind Tomori and beat Maignan.
In the second half, the changes and fatigue take away some liveliness from the match, which thus has to be decided by shots from the penalty spot: no one misses in the main series (for milan, Reijnders, Okafor, Tomori, Loftus-Cheek and Colombo score; for Monza, Petagna, Caprari, Machin, Franco Carboni and Pessina do not miss. In the first penalty shoot-out Thiaw put Milan back ahead, while Birindelli hit the crossbar and handed the trophy to the Rossoneri.
As for the lineups, Palladino lined up Di Gregorio in goal from 1′, Andrea Carboni, Bettella and Caldirola in defense, Ciurria, Gagliardini, Pessina and Carlos Augusto in midfield, Mota Carvalho and Colpani behind Maric in attack. D’Ambrosio took over for the injured Bettella in the first half, while in the second half Caprari came in for Dany Mota, Petagna for Maric, Pablo Marì for Andrea Carboni, Valentin Carboni for Colpani, Birindelli for Ciurria, Machin for Gagliardini and Franco Carboni for Carlos Augusto.
Pioli opted instead, at the opening whistle, for Maignan defending the posts, Kalulu, Thiaw, Tomori and Theo Hernandez on the defensive line, Loftus-Cheek, Krunic and Reijnders in the midfield, and Pulisic, Giroud and Leao in attack. All in the second half substitutions: Chukwueze for Pulisic, Bartesaghi for Hernandez, Okafor for Leao and Colombo for Giroud.
