By Anna Italia
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44% Ball Possession AC MILAN and 56% Ball Possession LAZIO
AC Milan 3 – 1 Lazio 
7′ Keisuke Honda 67′ Alex (own goal)
56′ Sulley Muntari
64′ Jeremy Menez (pen)
AC Milan coach and ex Milan player Filippo Inzaghi debuts with a victory in San Siro. AC Milan defeating Lazio on Sunday 31 August 2014 starting in this way the revival towards the great glorious AC Milan. It’s a rebuilding period and watching the game from the tribune is AC Milan President Silvio Berlusconi accompanied by Barbara Berlusconi, Adriano Galliani and with the latest transfer market signing Spanish forward Fernando Torres. Positive debut also from Milan goalkeeper Spanish Diego Lopez saving a penalty shot in the 94th minute by denying Antonio Candreva’s goal.
AC Milan opening the score in the 7th minute following a fast break with forward Keisuke Honda. It is forward Stephan El Shaarawy to start the action by providing the assist to Honda who defeat Lazio goalkeeper with a right footed shot in the bottom right corner. San Siro seems to awake as the fans raise their chants for the team encouraging to move forward.
Click the video to watch Keisuke Honda’s goal against Lazio giving the lead to the Rossoneri.
Milan forward Keisuke Honda celebrating his goal against Lazio here with teammates Cristian Zapata and Stephan El Shaarawy
Referee Paolo Tagliavento giving the first yellow card of the match to AC Milan midfielder Nigel De Jong after a foul on Lazio midfielder Senad Lulic in the 20th minute.
Lazio battling while challenging AC Milan goalkeeper Diego Lopez in the 29th minute with forward Antonio Candreva. The assist by Keita to Candreva seeing his right footed shot saved in the top left corner.
AC Milan increase the score in the 56th minute. The action started by defender Ignazio Abate sending the assist to midfielder Sulley Muntari defeating Lazio goalkeeper with a left footed shot in the bottom right corner. The joy of Inzaghi obvious while Milan teammates celebrate and congratulate Muntari. Players are responding to Inzaghi’ call for revival.
Lazio substituting in the 59th minute forward Miroslav Klose with Filip Djordjevic. In the 60th minute, Lazio coach Stefano Pioli making another substitution by replacing forward Keita with midfielder Felipe Anderson.
Alert call for Milan as Lazio fresh sub Filip Djordjevic already creating danger in the 60th minute. The assist by midfielder Lucas Biglia to Djordjevic seeing his left footed shot saved by goalkeeper Diego Lopez in the center.
AC Milan coach Filippo Inzaghi giving instructions to his players.
Things not going well for Lazio. Imagine, in the 63rd minute, Referee Tagliavento giving a penalty to Milan. It’s a clear penalty as Lazio defender Stefan de Vrij commits a foul on Jeremy Menez inside the penalty box in a clear effort to stop the race towards the goal. It’s Menez himself to take the penalty spot and there you go …. Menez converts the penalty with a right footed shot in the bottom left corner.
AC Milan forward Jeremy Menez celebrating after converting the penalty against Lazio.
AC Milan coach celebrating with Menez.
Oops! A boo boo by AC Milan defender Alex in the 67th minute committing an own goal!
AC Milan coach Inzaghi making a forced substitution for injury in the 68th minute. Sulley Muntari is replaced by midfielder Michael Essien.
Referee Tagliavento giving a yellow card to Milan goalkeeper Diego Lopez in the 71st minute.
In the 73rd minute, Lazio last substitution replacing midfielder Senad Lulic with midfielder Stefano Mauri.
Last minutes and clearly Inzaghi wanting to protect the result. In the 77th minute, Milan replacing forward Keisuke Honda with defender Pablo Armero.
In the 82nd minute, Milan replacing forward Jeremy Menez with forward M’Baye Niang.
Niang attempts a left footed shot in the 83rd minute challenging Lazio goalkeeper who saves in the center.
Oh well, what a way to end the match with a thriller final act! In the 94th minute, Referee Tagliavento giving a penalty to Lazio conceded by Milan defender Ignazio Abate after a foul on forward Antonio Candreva. Taking the penalty spot is Candreva and when you expected to see a goal, hello, hello, Milan goalkeeper saving Candreva’s right footed shot by going to the right direction in the bottom left corner. …..
The moment of goalkeeper Diego Lopez going to the left corner to save Candreva’s penalty!
Referee Tagliavento whistles the end of the match and the party in San Siro is for Inzaghi and his positive debut.
Here is AC MILAN official lineup by coach Filippo Inzaghi:
Milan (4-3-3): Diego Lopez; Ignazio Abate, Cristian Zapata, Alex, Daniele Bonera; Poli, Nigel De Jong, Sulley Muntari; Keisuke Honda, Jeremy Menez, Stephan El Shaarawy.
Here is LAZIO official starting lineup by coach Stefano Pioli:
Lazio (4-3-3): Berisha; Dusan Basta, De Vrij, Cana, Radu; Parolo, Biglia, Senad Lulic; Candreva, Miroslav Klose, Keita
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AC Milan players celebrating after the game against Lazio at the San Siro Stadium by thanking the fans for their support throughout the game.
Italian Serie A Week 1
AC Milan 3 – 1 Lazio
Sunday 31 August 2014
San Siro Stadium
Milan, Italy
18:00
Referee: TAGLIAVENTO
Assistants: DI FIORE – BIANCHI
Fourth Official: CRISPO
ADD1: MAZZOLENI
ADD2: NASCA
Goals: 7′ Keisuke Honda, 56′ Sulley Muntari, 64′ pen. Jeremy Menez, 67′ o.g. Alex
(94th minute: Goalkeeper Diego Lopez saved a penalty from Candreva)
Official formations – lineups:
AC MILAN: Diego Lopez; Abate, Zapata, Alex, Bonera; Poli, De Jong, Muntari (68′ Essien); Honda (77′ Armero), Menez (82′ Niang), El Shaarawy.
Subs not used: Abbiati, Agazzi, Albertazzi, Armero, Rami, Zaccardo, Cristante, Essien, Saponara, Mastour, Niang.
Coach: Filippo Inzaghi.
LAZIO: Berisha; Basta, De Vrij, Cana, Radu; Parolo, Biglia, Lulic (73′ Lulic); Candreva, Klose (60′ Djordjevic), Keita (60′ Felipe Anderson).
Subs not used: Guerrieri, Strakosha, Braafheid, Novaretti, Gentiletti, Konko, Cataldi, F.Anderson, Ledesma, Gonzalez, Mauri, Djordjevic.
Coach: Stefano Pioli
BOOKINGS: De Jong, D.Lopez (M), Radu, Lulic, De Vrij (L)
| AC Milan | Match Stats | Lazio |
| 3 | Goals | 1 |
| 7(4) | Shots (on goal) | 19(4) |
| 10 | Fouls | 20 |
| 0 | Corner kicks | 10 |
| 3 | Offsides | 0 |
| 44% | Ball Possession | 56% |
| 2 | Yellow Cards | 3 |
| 0 | Red Cards | 0 |
| 4 | Saves | 1 |