New AC Milan coach Paulo Fonseca celebrated his first Serie A victory in style, as the Rossoneri secured a commanding 4-0 win over promoted Venezia on Saturday. The emphatic result not only ended Milan’s winless start to the season but also provided a timely boost ahead of a crucial week.
A blistering opening half-hour saw Milan dominate the match, with the team scoring four goals in quick succession. Rafael Leao and Theo Hernandez, who were reinstated into the starting lineup after being benched in the previous game, combined brilliantly to open the scoring just 90 seconds into the match. Hernandez won possession in midfield and passed to Leao, who returned the favor with a deft backheeled flick, setting Hernandez free down the left to slot the ball past goalkeeper Jesse Joronen.
In the 16th minute, Youssouf Fofana doubled the lead by heading in a corner from Christian Pulisic. Pulisic, the American international, then extended the advantage in the 25th minute by converting a penalty after Tammy Abraham was fouled by Joronen. Just minutes later, Abraham netted his first goal for Milan from the spot, following a VAR review that penalized Venezia defender Joel Schingtienn for a foul on Leao.
The four-goal burst marked the first time since 1958 that Milan had scored four times in the opening half-hour of a Serie A match. Venezia’s struggles were compounded when Hans Nicolussi Caviglia was sent off after receiving a second yellow card for a foul on Ruben Loftus-Cheek. Although Francesco Zampano thought he had pulled one back for Venezia, his effort was disallowed.
The convincing victory sets Milan up for a significant week ahead. Fonseca’s side will host Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, followed by a fiercely contested Serie A derby against defending champions Inter Milan. The win over Venezia could serve as a catalyst for improved performances as Milan navigates these challenging fixtures.
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AC Milan get timely boost with coach Fonseca's first win in Serie A
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