The Milan team made an impressive turnaround to win 3:2 as a guest of Torino in the last match of the 14th round of Serie A, reported sportal.bg.
The hosts took an early lead with two goals, which were the work of Nikola Vlasic (10’ - penalty) and Duvan Zapata (17’), but Adrien Rabiot (24’) quickly reduced his team's deficit with a wonderful goal, and reserve Christian Pulisic (67’, 78’) brought about the complete turnaround with his two goals. Thus the "Rossoneri" ended their three-game losing streak against this opponent.
The suspended Massimiliano Allegri made four changes to his starting line-up after the 1-0 defeat to Lazio in the Coppa Italia. Matteo Gabbia returned to central defence in place of Connie De Winter. Davide Barthezaghi started at left-back instead of Pervis Estupinian. Ardon Jashari was replaced by Luka Modric in midfield. Samuele Ricci was also not a starter as Ruben Loftus-Cheek was moved back into midfield, with Rafael Leao's attacking partner this time being Christopher Nkunku. The hosts also lined up in a 3-5-2 formation with forwards Che Adams and Zapata.
The hosts took the lead in the tenth minute when Nikola Vlasic converted a penalty awarded for a handball by Fikayo Tomori. Mike Mengian came close to saving the spot kick, but failed to save his third consecutive penalty against him in Serie A.
In the 17th minute, Christian Aslani tried to double the lead, but his long-range shot ended up in the arms of the opposing goalkeeper. Seconds later, however, the "bulls" did indeed score a second goal. Adrien Tamese took the ball from Nkunku and passed it to Vlasic, who made a long run and eventually assisted Zapata. The striker, with a diagonal shot, passed the ball between Strahinja Pavlović's legs and thus sent it into the net of Menjan, who also did not intervene convincingly.
The "Rossoneri" managed to reduce their deficit with their first shot of the match. This happened in the 24th minute, when Rabiot scored his debut goal for the team with a great shot from 29 meters. In the 28th minute, Leao also tried a shot from a long distance, but did not find the target. It was during this play that the Portuguese suffered a muscle injury, which is why he was forced to be substituted. Ritchie came in his place, which sent Loftus-Cheek into the front positions. In the final minutes before the break, Nkunku and Rabiot tried to restore the tie, but their shots were unsuccessful.
The second half began with a backheel shot by Nkunku, after which Franco Israel caught the ball. Shortly after, Pavlović fired from long range, but his performance was disappointing. In the 55th minute, the visitors came up short with an equalizer after the opposing goalkeeper saved Barthezaghi's dangerous header, then prevented Ricci's addition. A little later, Faustino Anjorin came hard on Alexis Salemakers' right foot, but only got away with a yellow card. Unsuccessful shots by Vlašić and Marcus Pedersen followed.
In the 66th minute, Pulisić appeared on the field and seconds later it was he who scored with a shot on the ground after a cross from Salemakers. Five minutes later, Adams sent the ball into the visitors' net, but his goal was disallowed due to a foul in Pedersen's attack on the Belgian. On the other hand, the Milanese giants achieved a complete turnaround, which happened in the 78th minute. Ritchie then passed Pulisic to the penalty spot, and the American scored his second goal of the match with a volley. At the very end of regular time, the striker reached the third goal, but it was disallowed due to offside by his assistant Nkunku, and the result remained unchanged.
After their third consecutive championship victory, Milan collected 31 points and returned to the top of the standings, where they were before the start of the round, thanks to their slightly better goal difference over second-placed Napoli. Torino lost their third consecutive match and thus remained in 16th position with their 14 points.
TORINO - MILAN 2:3
1:0 Vlasic (10' - penalty)
2:0 Zapata (17')
2:1 Rabiot (24')
2:2 Pulisic (67')
2:3 Pulisic (78')
Torino: Israel, Tamese, Maripan, Coco, Pedersen, Anjorin, Aslani, Lazaro, Vlasic, Adams, Zapata
Milan: Mengan, Tomori, Gabbia, Pavlovich, Salemakers, Loftus-Cheek, Modric, Rabiot, Bartezaghi, Nkunku, Leao