AC Milan spank Venezia to record first Serie A victory

Milan finally recorded their first win of the season in the Serie A on Sunday, a 4-0 demolition of Venezia.

Diavolo needed 30 minutes to establish their supremacy over the promoted side, with Theo Hernandez, Youssouf Fofana, Christian Pulisic, and Tammy Abraham finding the target.

The Rossoneri were under pressure after recording two points from three rounds. 

Milan got boosted with the return of  Rafael Leao and Theo Hernandez after their controversial benching against Lazio, while Tammy Abraham got his first start.

Milan broke the deadlock at 89 seconds. Theo Hernandez burst down the left, received Rafael Leao’s return pass with a bizarre back-heel flick on the half-turn, and squeezed the finish past the goalkeeper at the near post.

Tijjani Reijnders, who played in the more advanced trequartista role, had his pull-back from the by-line intercepted by Jay Idzes to stop the Christian Pulisic tap-in. Milan doubled their advantage on the resulting Pulisic corner, flicked on by Youssouf Fofana at the near post, and bundled in off Matteo Gabbia’s knee. 

However, the Lega Serie A later credited Fofana with the goal, as it came off Joronen’s arm.

Reijnders was again prevented from scoring when his angled drive was parried by Jesse Joronen. Milan was then awarded a penalty after the goalie brought down Abraham on the rebound, which Pulisic converted.

They were also awarded another spot-kick moment when Joel Schingtienne trod on Rafael Leao’s foot,  spotted by VAR rather than the referee. Abraham sent Joronen the wrong way to achieve his first Rossoneri goal.

This became the first time Milan scored four goals in the opening 30 minutes of a Serie A match since October 1958 against Alessandria.

After Gaetano Oristanio’s went straight to Mike Maignan, Joronen kept the scoreline down with a save on Rafael Leao after the restart.

Venezia thought they had reduced the deficit in 72 minutes via Francesco Zampano on a poor Emerson Royal clearance. Still, VAR showed the move was started by a terrible Hans Nicolussi Caviglia foul on Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s ankle.