Milan, November 29 (BNA): AC Milan fell to a second consecutive loss in the Italian Serie A soccer league when Sassuolo stunned its rival at San Siro after coming back from behind to win 3-1 on Sunday.
The hosts took an early lead after captain Alessio Romagnoli headed in a corner kick in the 21st minute, and Milan looked set to return to a winning path in the league after last weekend’s loss to Fiorentina, Reuters reported.
But Sassuolo, who beat Juventus away from home last month, turned the game on its head, with Gianluca Scamaca’s stunning shot and Simon Kjeer’s unfortunate own goal giving them a 2-1 lead within 33 minutes.
Even with veteran striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic up front, Milan struggled to issue a response, with Domenico Berardi keen to secure a deserved victory for Sassuolo with a superb individual goal in the 66th minute.
Romagnoli’s red card in the 77th minute practically ended Milan’s hopes of getting anything from the match. It remains second in the standings, three points behind leaders Napoli, who beat Lazio 4-0 on Sunday.
Sassuolo’s first win in four league matches took them up to 12th place with 18 points.
“We lacked the latest technology,” Milan coach Stefano Pioli told DAZN. “We got it wrong a lot in key situations, especially in the opponent’s area.
“We missed the last pass or the attack on goal. We should have managed the one-goal advantage better and instead made a mistake that proved costly.
“Obviously if we now conceded seven goals in two (league) games, then something didn’t work out.”
Milan entered the competition on the back of their defeat in Florence last weekend – their first of the season in Serie A.
But, having secured a decisive Champions League win in midweek against Atlético Madrid, they looked better as Romagnoli’s first goal of the season gave them a deserved lead.
Then Scamaka’s thunderbolt from the blue zone, an arrow shot from 25 meters into the top corner in the 24th minute, stunned the hosts behind before they knew it.
Skamaka had a big role in the visitors’ second goal as well, with his elaborate attempt being saved by returning AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Minnan, but the ball rebounded from Kjaer to smash into his own net.
After the break, Ibrahimovic unleashed a powerful blow from distance, but Sassuolo easily contained his opponents.
The winning goal was a scion in its execution, with Italy striker Berardi turning around before pasting Minnen to provoke unbridled festive scenes.