By Anna Italia
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42% Ball Possession SASSUOLO and 58% Ball Possession AC MILAN
Sassuolo 4 – 3 AC Milan 
15′ Domenico Berardi 9′ Robinho
28′ Domenico Berardi 13′ Mario Balotelli
41′ Domenico Berardi 86′ Riccardo Montolivo
47′ Domenico Berardi
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Serie A Standing AFTER the game:
Sassuolo, 18th position with 14 points and a negative goal difference of -21
AC Milan, 11th position with 22 points and a positive goal difference of +2
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | Goals | Diff. | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | AC Milan | 18 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 28:26 | 2 | 22 |
| 18 | Sassuolo | 18 | 3 | 5 | 10 | 17:38 | -21 | 14 |
Sassuolo-Milan playing for the first time in Serie A at the Mapei stadium in
Reggio Emilia and it is Sassuolo to celebrate with a poker victory by just one player: Domenico Berardi scoring 4 goals. There is only 1 precedent from these teams in the Summer Friendly game with Sassuolo surprisingly defeating AC Milan with a 2-1, and again, Sassuolo proving they are not afraid of the Rossoneri. Interesting detail, Sassuolo President Giorgio Squinzi not only is a strong AC Milan fan, but also admires the Rossoneri coach Massimiliano Allegri.
Sassuolo not only celebrating this victory against Milan, but also leaving the relegation zone! Yep, Sassuolo jumping from the 18th position to the 16 position while Milan remain in the 11th position. Not only is a shameful defeat for Milan, but also their chances to make it to the Champions League or Europa League next year are almost gone!
Surely, Milan started well, but maybe “over confidence” played a role. Milan opening the score in the 9th minute with forward Robinho defeating Sassuolo goalkeeper Gianluca Pegolo with a left footed shot in the bottom right corner. The assist is by midfielder Nigel De Jong.
In the 13th minute, Milan forward Mario Balotelli gets the assist by midfielder Bryan Cristante. Balotelli defeats Sassuolo goalkeeper Pegolo with left footed shot in the center.
Sassuolo shortening the distance in the 15th minute. It is forward Domenico Berardi to defeat AC Milan goalkeeper Christian Abbiati with a left footed shot in the center! The assist by midfielder Jasmin Kurtic.
The fans at the Mapei Stadium going wild in the 28th minute! Yep, Berardi equalizing with a left footed shot in the bottom left corner leaving goalkeeper Abbiati with frustration. Players celebrating while Milan players are almost in disbelief.
Say no more, it is Sassuolo to take the lead! Amazingly, Berardi scoring his third goal of the match in the 41st minute! The action starting with the assist by defender Alessandro Longhi with a cross. It seems the heavens open to applaud Berardi because he smacks a right footed shot giving goalkeeper Abbiati a tremendous headache!!! A hat-trick by Berardi! Apparently, Milan’s defense are on vacation….
Another goal for Sassuolo in the 47th minute! And guess who did it? Yep, you guessed it right…. it is again DOMENICO BERARDI!!!!! The assist by midfielder Kurtic towards the center finding Berardi to defeat goalkeeper Abbiati with a left footed shot in the bottom left corner.
AC Milan trying to revive the team by adding fresh energy. In the 55th minute two changes.
Midfielder Riccardo Montolivo replacing midfielder Bryan Cristante. Forward Giampaolo Pazzini replacing midfielder Antonio Nocerino.
Balotelli missing a goal opportunity in the 62nd minute after his right footed shot misses the target to the right. Balotelli cannot believe his luck.
Sassuolo fans continuing to encourage the team.
Allegri decides to use new player forward Keisuke Honda in the 65th minute replacing Robinho. Japanese journalists capturing the moment for Honda’s debut.
In the 69th minute, Montolivo challenging goalkeeper Pegolo with a right footed shot only to be saved in the bottom left corner. The desperation now growing among Milan players with the clock tickling….
The man of the match had to leave the pitch in the 78th minute among
the ovation of the fans. Coach Eusebio Di Francesco replaces injured
Berardi for midfielder Ezequiel Schelotto. Berardi tried to continue, but injury not allowing him. My respect for Berardi, what a game!
Milan battling against the clock…. in the 83rd minute a crazy moment! The assist by Kaka to forward Giampaolo Pazzini seeing his left footed shot saved by goalkeeper Pegolo in the center.
Sassuolo with a forced substitution in the 84th minute because forward Simone Zaza have cramps… cannot continue and is replaced by forward Antonio Floro Flores.
Milan shortening the distance in the 86th minute! An assist by Nigel De Jong to midfielder Montolivo defeating goalkeeper Pegolo with a right footed shot in the bottom left corner.
Five minutes added time.
Here is SASSUOLO official starting lineup by coach Eusebio Di Francesco:
Sassuolo (3-4-3): Pegolo; Antei, Ariaudo, Magnanelli; Gazzola, Kurtic, Chibsah, Longhi; Domenico Berardi, Zaza, Ziegler.
Here is AC MILAN official starting lineup by coach Massimiliano Allegri:
AC Milan (4-3-3): Christian Abbiati; De Sciglio, Zapata, Daniele Bonera, Emanuelson; Cristante, De Jong, Antonio Nocerino; Kakà, Robinho, Mario Balotelli.
Disciplinary Situation before the game: 1 suspended player for SASSUOLO: Bianco
1 suspended player for AC MILAN: Sulley Muntari (2)
Stats AFTER the game. Top scorer SASSUOLO: Domenico Berardi with 11 goals
Top scorer AC MILAN: Forward Mario Balotelli with 7 goals
| Sassuolo | Goals | Goals | AC Milan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Berardi, Domenico | 11 | 7 | Balotelli, Mario |
| Zaza, Simone | 5 | 5 | Kaka |
| Floro Flores, Antonio | 3 | 4 | Muntari, Sulley |
| Marzoratti, Lino | 1 | 3 | Robinho |
| Schelotto, Ezequiel Matias | 1 | 2 |
Birsa, Valter |
Stats. Here are the last 3 games of SASSUOLO: 3 lost
| 06/01/14 | SA | Genoa – Sassuolo |
2:0 | Round 18 |
| 22/12/13 | SA | Sassuolo – Fiorentina |
0:1 | Round 17 |
| 15/12/13 | SA | Juventus – Sassuolo |
4:0 | Round 16 |
Here are the last 3 games of AC MILAN: 1 win, 1 draw, 1 lost
| 06/01/14 | SA | Milan – Atalanta |
3:0 | Round 18 |
| 22/12/13 | SA | Inter – Milan |
1:0 | Round 17 |
| 16/12/13 | SA | Milan – Roma |
2:2 | Round 16 |
Click the video to watch the highlight of the game, SASSUOLO vs AC MILAN, Sunday 12 January 2014, Mapei Stadium, Sassuolo, Italy,
Serie A Week 19
Click the video to watch the commentaries from DIRETTA STADIO by Tiziano Crudelli on Sassuolo – AC Milan
Japanese forward Keisuke Honda makes his debut with AC Milan
AC Milan forward Robinho running to celebrate after opening the score in the 9th minute
AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri giving instructions to Keisuke Honda before his debut in the 65th minute replacing forward Robinho
Italian Serie A Week 19
Sassuolo 4 – 3 AC Milan
Sunday 12 January 2014
Mapei Stadium di Reggio Emilia
Sassuolo, Italy
20:45
Referee: DE MARCO
Assistants: BARBIRATI – MARZALONI
Fourth Official: DOBOSZ
ADD1: BERGONZI
ADD2: PINZANI
Attendance: 20,000 approximately
Goals: 9′ Robinho (M), 13′ Mario Balotelli (M), 15′ Domenico Berardi (S), 28′ Domenico Berardi (S), 41′ Domenico Berardi (S), 47′ Domenico Berardi (S), 86′ Riccardo Montolivo
Official formations – lineups:
SASSUOLO (4-5-1):
Pegolo; Gazzola, Antei, Ariaudo, Longhi; Berardi (78′
Schelotto), Chibsah, Magnanelli, Kurtic (87′ Marzorati),
Ziegler; Zaza (84′ Floro Flores).
Subs not used: Pomini, Rosati, Pucino, Missiroli, Gomes, Valeri, Farias, Gliozzi.
Coach: Eusebio Di Francesco.
AC MILAN (4-3-2-1):
Abbiati; De Sciglio, Zapata, Bonera, Emanuelson; Cristante (55′ Montolivo), De Jong, Nocerino (55′ Pazzini); Kakà, Robinho
(65′ Honda); Balotelli.
Subs not used: Coppola, Gabriel, Mexes, Zaccardo, Silvestre, Rami, Poli, Saponara, Matri
Coach. MassimilianoAllegri.
Sunday 12 January 2014 Mapei Stadium di Reggio Emilia Sassuolo, Italy 20:45 Referee: DE MARCO |
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| Sassuolo | Match Stats |
AC Milan |
| 4 | Goals | 3 |
| 12 (8) | Shots (on goal) | 16 (7) |
| 23 | Fouls | 18 |
| 4 | Corner kicks | 3 |
| 3 | Offsides | 5 |
| 42% | Ball Possession | 58% |
| 5 | Yellow Cards | 3 |
| 0 | Red Cards | 0 |
| 4 | Saves | 4 |
What do you think of the result? Agree? Disagree? Best and worst player?