AC MILAN starting XI (4-2-3-1): Maignan, Emerson Royal, Gabbia, Pavlovic, Hernandez, Loftus-Cheek, Fofana (subbed for Zeroli), Pulisic (subbed for Chukwueze), Reijnders (subbed for Okafor), Leao (subbed for Morata), Abraham (subbed for Musah)
Bench: Torriani, Raveyre, Calabria, Tomori, Terracciano, Jovic
Goals: Hernandez 2’, Fofana 16’, Pulisic 25’ (Pen), Abraham 29’ (Pen)
VENEZIA starting XI (3-4-2-1): Joronen, Idzes, Svoboda, Schingtienne, Candela, Duncan (subbed for Doumbia), Nicolussi Caviglia, Zampano (subbed for Carboni), Oristanio (subbed for Yeboah), Busio (subbed for Andersen), Pohjanpalo (subbed for Raimondo)
Bench: Stankovic, Grandi, Sagrado, Sverko, Crnigoj, Ellertsson, El Haddad, Gytkjaer
A devastating opening half an hour set Milan on their way to a convincing 4-0 win over promoted Venezia on Saturday for their first victory of the season after two draws and a loss.
The result and the manner of the win is a timely confidence boost ahead of a crucial week. Fonseca’s team hosts Liverpool in the Champions League on Wednesday morning (AEST) followed by a Serie A derby match against defending champions Inter.
Rafael Leao and Theo Hernandez were back in the starting line-up and the pair combined to score the opener after just 90 seconds at the San Siro.
Hernandez won the ball in midfield and played it to Leao who gave it back to him with a delicious backheeled flick on the half turn. That sent the France international down the left and he squeezed his shot past Jesse Joronen at the near post.
Milan doubled their lead in the 16th minute when Youssouf Fofana headed in a Christian Pulisic corner, and the United States international got on the scoresheet himself in the 25th by converting a penalty after Tammy Abraham was tripped by Joronen.
The Rossoneri were awarded another penalty less than three minutes later after the video assistant referee spotted Venezia defender Joel Schingtienn stepping on Leao’s foot.
This time Englishman Abraham stepped up to net his first goal for Milan since joining from Roma last month.
It was the first time Milan scored four times in the first half hour of a Serie A match since 1958.
AAP
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