Milan 3-0 Torino Welcome Clean Sheet

Abbiati, Zaccardo and Pazzini all got somewhat surprising starts, perhaps two were playing their last home games in a Milan shirt. Whatever the true reason seeing Pazzini in a captain’s role and again little sign of youth players – except on the bench – was frustrating to some fans. The visitors had the early edge in play but Milan opened the score. Zaccardo’s accurate cross found El Shaarawy in the top of box, the latter took the ball well, turned and beat Daniele Padelli in Torino’s goal. The half prodded along with little danger, El Shaarawy shot a half chance wide and Torino ran and threatened a few times. There was to be more drama however, not long before the half Zaccardo was sent off for putting a foot in on the edge of the box and bringing down the on rushing Cristian Molinaro. Whether or not that red was merited was debatable but just moments before it in the same sequence of play Amauri was offside.

Torino players Offside In the Leadup to Zaccardo’s Red

Pippo Inzaghi was expelled and banished to the stands and Mexes came on for Alex to start the second. An early free kick wasn’t far from producing a second but it was diverted out for a corner. An improved start to the second paid dividends, Pazzini and van Ginkel were involved in a nice one two and the Dutch was brought down clumsily. The aforementioned was Molinaro was red carded and Pazzini converted the penalty. Honda seemed more comfortable in a more central attacking role. Another nice one two this time between van Ginkel and El Shaarawy lead to Milan’s third. The ball was moving better than any time in recent games. Zapata replaced El Shaarawy soon after. A beaming Alessandro Mastalli – 19 year old primavera player – replaced Poli a few minutes later. Abbiati’s stretched leg denied Omar El Kaddouri a goal. The game finished with a welcome clean sheet.

More on the game as it happened.