Match Recap - Chievo 1 - AC Milan 3: Three goals, three points, fun times!

AC Milan have beaten Chievo 3-1 at the Bentagodi and soar to joint second on the Serie A ladder! The Rossoneri have now won 4 of their last 5 matches, the other being a draw in between those games.

The first half saw Chievo with the better chances, with Milan held back in their own half for the first 30 minutes or so. The hosts kept knocking at the door, but would squander their chances to take the lead. Birsa had a few chances to score but all were either claimed by Donnarumma or missed the goal entirely. The Gialloblu’s inability to find the back of the net in the first half would prove costly, with Kucka latching onto a mislaid pass and smashing the ball into the net to give Milan the lead on the cusp of halftime.

The goal came from nowhere, basically, as Chievo had dominated possession and chances. Kucka would smash and grab to send the visitors into the sheds in front and joint second on the ladder. All Milan needed to do was hold on.

Just one minute into the second half and Niang would make it 2-0 with a superb goal from outside the box. Cacciatore made an error and gifted the ball to M’Baye who raced upfield and buried the ball in the back of the net. Niang then ran over to the bench and held up a shirt with Montolivo on it, out of respect for the injured captain.

Chievo would find a response in the 76th minute after Paletta was given a yellow card for a bad challenge, Chievo were given a free kick 20 yards out, and Birsa would make no mistake in the kick, lifting it over the wall and into the top corner, just out of reach of Donnarumma. It was a very good goal and kept the hosts in the match.

The goal put Milan under pressure to hold on, and the hosts were fired up looking for an equaliser.

They never found one. Instead, Bacca, who was a late substitute, would score a late goal to seal all three points for Milan. The goal would actually go down as an own goal against Dainelli. Bacca decided to use Dainelli’s face as a deflection and it was both hilarious and embarassing at the same time. What a goal!

The win sends the Rossoneri to joint second on the ladder, third on goal difference. They take on Juventus next week and will be hoping the momentum keeps them going.