Serie A, Milan thanks Tonali: three golden points in Verona
Hellas Verona – Milan 1-2 in the Sunday postponement of the tenth day
Pioli’s AC Milan routed the Bentegodi, beating Bocchetti’s Verona 2-1, who took over from the exonerated Cioffi, thanks to a decisive goal by Tonali, who scored a decisive brace for the Scudetto last year. The Rossoneri had taken the lead through an own goal by Veloso, Veronese’s equalizer caused again by an own goal, that of Gabbia in the first half. Bitterness in the Hellas home for the numerous chances anchored before Tonali’s goal. Standings: Milan 23, Verona 5. Next round: Milan-Monza (Saturday, Oct. 22, 6 p.m.), Sassuolo Verona (Monday, Oct. 24, 8:45 p.m.).
FIRST HALF: Good start for the Gialloblù but it’s a flare-up. Faraoni commits from outside Tatarusanu. Opposite reversal: Leao leaves on the left, makes a vacuum, enters the area and kicks, Veloso’s unlucky touch, Montipò beaten: 0-1. Gialloblù in confusion, there is no interdiction in the middle of the pitch: the Rossoneri take advantage of this by putting Giroud in one-on-one with the Veronese fullback: clamorously low shot wide. The Gialloblù pull themselves together also thanks to a Milan that was dancing in defense. 20′: great collective action, finalized by Gunter, ball in the net due to Gabbia’s unlucky clearance. From the North Curve occupied by the Rossoneri fans, flares are thrown toward the field, landing on the former athletic track, extinguished by firefighters. As the minutes go by, the match hovers on the edge of equilibrium, the pace doesn’t hint at dropping, the cause of elementary errors on both sides. 44′: three scrums in the Rossoneri area make the Verona fans shout for a goal, the Milanese rearguard and Veloso’s inaccurate aim nail the result on a draw at the end of the first half.
REBACK: Pioli wants to win it, in goes Rebic and Origi for Giroud and Brahim Diaz. On the throw-in, it’s Verona who comes close to making it 2-1 with Hrustic, roundabout conclusion at the far post, out. Rossoneri turn up the heat, Montipò saves Hellas. The game is played with an open face and full field as in the first 45 minutes. Bocchetti inserts Piccoli for the injured Hrustic (9′). The game is played on a razor’s edge. Newcomer Piccoli takes off higher than anyone from the middle of the box on Veloso’s center, hitting a resounding cross, ball in, great first-time strike signed Gunter just over the crossbar. Two more changes in Milan: Bennacer and Pobega in; in Hellas Hongla for an exhausted but very good Tameze, Djuric for Henry, followed by Kallon and Cabal for Magnani and Verdi. The substitutions do well for Milan, until the half-hour mark never dangerous. Within a minute it has two excellent opportunities: first Hernandez forces Montipò into a difficult deflection, then again the extreme says no to Rebic’s header. 36′: Milan deadly on the counterattack: Rebic goes off on the right, a perfect low center for the undisturbed Tonali who slots into the Veronese net for 1:2 and the joy of the thousands of Rossoneri fans. The Gialloblù didn’t let up, forcing the Rossoneri on the defensive with a couple of scrums, a dubious episode, three corners but nothing to do even in the 5 minutes of added time. Triple whistle: Verona.Milan 1-2.
