By Anna Italia
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52% Ball Possession CAGLIARI and 48% Ball Possession CAGLIARI
AC Milan 3 – 1 Cagliari 
21′ Jérémy Menez               47′ Diego Farias
49′ Philippe Mexes
78′ Jérémy Menez (pen)

 

Serie A Standing AFTER the game:
Cagliari, 18th position with 21 points and a negative goal difference of -19
AC Milan, 7th position with 38 points and a positive goal difference of +6

Pos	Team	P	W	D	L	Goals	DIFF	Points
7	Milan	28	9	11	8	41:35	6	38
18	Cagliari	28	4	9	15	34:53	-19	21

 

 

AC Milan finally winning to have some hope to climb towards the European zone.  However, pressure for AC Milan coach Filippo Inzaghi and players still tangible.  Problems for Cagliari coach Zdenek Zeman to find the way to save Cagliari from relegation.     Challenge for Milan is to keep winning with only 10 games remaining.

It is AC Milan forward Jérémy Menez to open the score in the 21st minute defeating Cagliari goalkeeper Zeljko Brkic with a right footed shot in the bottom right corner.  The assist is by midfielder Andrea Poli.   It’s the 14th goal for Menez.

Second half starting with Cagliari adding fresh energy in the midfield.  In the 45th minute, midfielder João Pedro replacing defender Alejandro Gonzalez.

Bam!   Cagliari equalizing the score following a fast break.   There it is forward Diego Farias defeating AC Milan goalkeeper Diego Lopez with a right footed shot in the center.   The assist is by forward Marco Sau.  This is the 4th goal by Farias.  Well, Farias took the best part leaving frustrated Milan defender Philippe Mexes.

Redemption time for Mexes!   In the 49th minute, there it is Mexes fixing his previous error to score following a corner conceded by Cagliari defender Luca Ceppitelli.   The assist is by forward Menez with a cross finding Mexes ready  to defeat goalkeeper Brkic with a right footed shot in the bottom left corner.

AC Milan defender Philippe Mexes celebrating after his goal and congratulated here by midfielder Andrea Poli.

 

Cagliari making a substitution in the 66th minute with midfielder Andrea Cossu replacing forward  Paul-José M’Poku.

Coach Inzaghi energizing the attack by replacing forward Keisuke Honda in the 70th minute with forward Alessio Cerci.

Problems for Cagliari.   Referee Tagliavento giving a penalty to AC Milan conceded by Cagliri defender Luca Ceppitelli after a foul on Milan forward Alessio Cerci.   Taking the penalty spot is forward  Jérémy Menez… say no more.,  there you go.. Menez converting the penalty with a right footed shot defeating goalkeeper Brkic in the bottom right corner.     It’s the 15th goal this season by Menez.   Celebration among players and the fans outpouring their support.

 

 

Here is AC MILAN official starting lineup by coach Filippo Inzaghi:

AC MILAN (4-3-3): Diego Lopez; Abate, Paletta, Mexes, Antonelli; Poli, De Jong, Van Ginkel; Honda, Destro , Menez

Here is CAGLIARI official starting lineup by coach Zdenek Zeman:

CAGLIARI (4-3-3): Brkic; Gonzalez, Ceppitelli, Diakitè, Avelar; Ekdal, Crisetig, Donsah; Farias, Sau, Mpoku

Click the video to watch the highlights of the match AC Milan 3 – 1 Cagliari including all goals by Jeremy Menez, Diego Farias, and Philippe Mexes.

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Stats AFTER the match.  Top scorer for AC MILAN:  Forward Jeremy Menez with 15 goals

Top scorer for CAGLIARI:  Avelar, Farias, Joao, Ekdal, and Sau with 4 goals each

AC Milan	Goals	Goals	Cagliari
Menez, Jeremy	15	4	Avelar, Danilo
Honda, Keisuke	6	4	Farias, Diego
Bonaventura, Giacomo	4	4	Joao Pedro Galvao
de Jong, Nigel	2	4	Ekdal, Albin
Muntari, Sulley	2	4	Sau, Marco

 

Stats.  Here are the last 3 games of AC MILAN: 1 win, 1 draw, 1 lost

21/03/15	SA	Milan – Cagliari				3:1	Round 28
16/03/15	SA	Fiorentina – Milan				2:1	Round 27
07/03/15	SA	Milan – Verona				2:2	Round 26

 

Here are the last 3 games of CAGLIARI:  1 draw, 2 lost

21/03/15	SA	Milan – Cagliari				3:1	Round 28
14/03/15	SA	Cagliari – Empoli				1:1	Round 27
07/03/15	SA	Sampdoria – Cagliari				2:0	Round 26

 

Photos of the match AC Milan vs Cagliari courtesy of acmilan.com

 

AC Milan forward Keisuke Honda making their way to the pitch

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Forward Jeremy Menez thanking the fans

 

2014 – 2015 Italian Serie A Week 28

AC Milan 3 – 1 Cagliari
Saturday 21 March 2015
San Siro Stadium
Milan, Italy

20:45

Referee: TAGLIAVENTO
Assistants: COSTANZO – VIVENZI
Fourth Official: CARIOLATO
ADD1: CERVELLERA
ADD2: DI PAOLO

Attendance: 11.244

Goals: 21′ Jérémy Menez (M), 49′ Philippe Mexes (M), 47′ Diego Farias (C), 78′ Jérémy Menez (M)

Official formations – lineups:

AC MILAN (4-3-3): Diego Lopez; Abate, Paletta, Mexes, Antonelli; Poli, De Jong (87′ Essien), Van Ginkel; Honda (70′ Cerci), Destro (72′ Pazzini), Menez

Subs not used: (Abbiati, Gori, Albertazzi, Bocchetti, Bonera, Alex, Mastalli, Suso, Muntari).

Coach:  Inzaghi.

CAGLIARI (4-3-3): Brkic; Gonzalez (45′ Joao Pedro), Ceppitelli, Diakitè, Avelar; Ekdal, Crisetig, Donsah; Farias, Sau, Mpoku (65′  Cossu).

Subs not used: (Colombi, Cragno, Pisano, Murru, Rossettini, Conti, Dessena, Husbauer, Cop, Longo).

Coach: Zdenek Zeman

Booked:    Crisetig, Gonzalez, Ceppitelli,  De Jong and Farias

Match Stats

AC Milan	Match Stats</>	Cagliari
3	Goals	1
14(7)	Shots (on goal)	11(1)
15	Fouls	13
10	Corner kicks	5
1	Offsides	1
52%	Ball Possession	48%
1	Yellow Cards	4
0	Red Cards	0
0	Saves	4