Sandro Tonali bags an assist and a goal for Milan as they got off to a strong start in 2023.
Guillermo Ochoa made his Salernitana debut after shining for Mexico at the World Cup, and within 6 minutes he was required to perform a spectacular reaction save against Milan with his toes to deny Rafael Leao one-on-one.
Just 17 days after playing in the World Cup Final with France, Olivier Giroud headed over the bar in response to a Davide Calabria cross, but Milan did eventually score a goal shortly after. Leao was able to escape the offside trap thanks to Sandro Tonali’s brilliant first-time pass, and the talented Portuguese player raced past Ochoa to score from a narrow angle into an open net.
In addition to that outstanding assist, Tonali added a goal. His initial shot from the edge of the box pricked Ochoa’s gloves, but he scored on his second attempt after Brahim Diaz set him up giving Milan a 2-0 lead.
Fikayo Tomori made a significant block on Boulaye Dia’s attempt, while Brahim Diaz saw his initial shot parried and his follow-up shot drilled wide. Finally, after a cunning Leao back-heel flick, Ochoa made a desperate reaction save on Giroud.
Salomon Sambia and Vilhena failed to finish well for Salernitana, and Giroud missed two excellent opportunities right away after the restart. On 58 minutes, Ismael Bennacer’s free kick took a few deflections before Fikayo Tomori slammed it home from six yards out. However, the goal was overturned due to Brahim Diaz’s offside as he attempted to back-heel it in.
When Domagoj Bradaric was initially given a straight red card for colliding with Kalulu too late, VAR intervened, and the referee ultimately decided to only give him a yellow card after conducting an on-field review.
From a chipped Tonali free kick, Ochoa made two outstanding saves on Giroud and Charles De Ketelaere, but Salernitana scored right away on the counterattack. Saelemaekers was preoccupied with the marking when Lassana Coulibaly floated a ball to the back post for Federico Bonazzoli’s volley.
Sergino Dest’s sneaky flying back-heel flick was blocked by Ochoa, who also made a terrific reaction save to stop Ivan Radovanovic from scoring an own goal and flew to stop De Ketelaere.
Salernitana loses to Milan 2-1 as they hang on. Leao took the ball around Ochoa on the edge of the box and slotted it into the empty net from a tight angle on the game’s 10th minute, and Tonali doubled Milan’s lead just 6 minutes later. The visitors controlled the game for the majority of the half and led 2-0 at the break.
In the second half, Diaz believed he had scored their third goal, but VAR ruled that it was offside because he was returning from it. The hosts were unable to score an equaliser despite VAR overturning a straight red card for Bradaric before Bonazzoli, a substitute, pulled one back.
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