AC Milan, Sept. 19 (BUS): Two top Serie A coaches are already feeling the pressure after losing Juventus and Inter Milan on a miserable day for some of Italian football’s greats.
This was the first time since February 1955 that Juventus, Inter, Milan and Roma had lost on the same day in the Italian league.
Rookie Monza may not have expected his first-ever Serie A win against Juventus, but he managed to beat Massimiliano Allegri’s side 1-0. Juventus played most of the match with 10 men after Angel Di Maria’s red card.
Di Maria posted an apology on Instagram.
“I would like to apologize to everyone for the inappropriate reaction I received on the pitch,” he wrote. “After the team left a man at such a difficult moment of the season he made us lose the game.
“We just lost my fault. I am so sorry. I am a professional, but I am also a human who makes mistakes and can recognize them.”
Simone Inzaghi is also under pressure after his side lost Inter earlier 3-1 at the Udinese stadium, for their third loss in the league this season in seven rounds.
Napoli remained at the top of Serie A after inflicting its first defeat of the season against defending champion Milan. Napoli won 2-1 and is one of the two remaining unbeaten teams besides Atalanta, who beat Roma 1-0.
Allegri was already under pressure after Juventus lost their second consecutive Champions League game midweek. He was unbeaten in the Italian league but won only two of his first six matches.
Perhaps the Bianconeri were expecting an easier game at Monza, which were winless and conceded 14 goals in their six matches.
However, Juventus were barely within sight and their chances of a moral victory dwindled when Di Maria was unnecessarily sent off in the 40th minute for hitting Monza defender Armando Izo hard in the chest.
The home side’s fans took off in the 74th minute when Patrick Scioria crossed from the right and Christian Lund Gietker hit the near post.
Monza is owned by former Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi.
bad debts
United States defender Serginio Dest made his Serie A debut to forget him with Milan as he missed the penalty kick that put Napoli on their way to victory over the San Siro.
Dest participated in two Champions League matches with Milan but was playing his first match in the Italian League. Napoli’s Khvicha Kvaratsekhelia missed the penalty kick, which was converted by Matteo Politano in the 55th minute.
Olivier Giroud, who hit the crossbar in the first half, equalized in the 69th minute but Giovanni Simeone scored the winning goal 12 minutes before the end.
Pierre Calolo also hit the crossbar late in the Milan game, which was without suspended Rafael Liao.
killer giants
Udinese continued its surprising start to the season as it scored its fifth consecutive win to lift it to third place in the standings.
Nicolo Parilla hit a superb free kick in the fifth minute to get Inter Milan off to the perfect start, but Udinese equalized in the 22nd minute when Roberto Pereira’s free kick went outside Milan Shkriniar with an own goal.
Udinese hit the post before Jaca Begol headed a corner kick with three minutes remaining and Tolgay Arslan secured the points in stoppage time with a header.
Moreni to miss Inter
Roma coach Jose Mourinho will miss his former club Inter’s match after he was sent off in the defeat to Atalanta.
Mourinho received a red card in the 57th minute after entering the field to protest with referee Daniele Chevy who awarded a free kick to Atalanta, not what Mourinho thought was a penalty for his team. Mourinho became even angrier and a member of his team had to block him.
Roma’s next match will be at Inter after the international break. Mourinho led Inter to win the Champions League, Serie A and Coppa Italia treble in 2010.
Young defender Giorgio Scalvini scored the only goal of the match at Stadio Olimpico, hitting the bottom right corner in the 35th minute.
Lazio also beat Cremonese 4-0, and Fiorentina beat Hellas Verona 2-0.