MX23RW : Monday, November 25 13:11:59| >> :600:5468056:5468056:
[monks data]
Sassuolo logo
Serie A
Jan 12, 2014 at 7.45pm UK
 
Milan logo

4-3

Berardi (15', 28', 41', 47')
FT(HT: 3-2)
Robinho (9'), Balotelli (13'), Montolivo (86')

Live Commentary: Sassuolo 4-3 AC Milan - as it happened

Relive Sports Mole's text commentary of Sassuolo's 4-3 win over AC Milan in their Serie A clash at the Stadio Alberto Braglia.
2

Sassuolo hosted AC Milan in their Serie A match at the Stadio Alberto Braglia.

The visitors started well and goals from Robinho and Mario Balotelli gave them a 2-0 lead inside of 13 minutes.

Domenico Berardi quickly pulled a goal back for Sassuolo and added two more before half time to turn the game around.

The striker scored his fourth at the start of the second half, and although Riccardo Montolivo pulled a late goal back for Milan, the home side held on to record a famous win.

Read how the action unfolded below.


Sort:
Newest
Oldest
Good evening and thank you for joining Sports Mole for live text commentary of the Serie A match between Sassuolo and AC Milan at the Stadio Alberto Braglia

AC Milan began 2014 with a 3-0 victory over Atalanta in their last match, and they will be looking to move into the top half of the table with three points against relegation threatened Sassuolo.

The home side come into this game off the back of four straight defeats in the league, which has left them 18th in the table and in serious danger of a return to Serie B at the end of the season.

SASSUOLO XI: Pegolo, Antei, Ariaudo, Magnanelli, Gazzola, Kurtic, Chibsah, Longhi, Berardi, Zaza, Ziegler

MILAN XI: Abbiati, De Sciglio, Zapata, Bonera, Emanuelson, Cristante, De Jong, Nocerino, Kaka, Robinho, Balotelli

SASSUOLO SUBS: Pomini, Rosati, Pucino, Marzorati, Rossini, Missiroli, Valeri, Marrone, Schelotto, Farias, Floro Flores, Gliozzi

MILAN SUBS: Gabriel, Coppola, Mexes, Rami, Silvestre, Zaccardo, Poli, Montolivo, Saponara, Honda, Matri, Pazzini

TEAM NEWS: New Milan signing Keisuke Honda is named on the bench by Massimiliano Allegri. The big change to their starting lineup is the return of Mario Balotelli, who didn't make the first 11 last weekend because of flu. Sassuolo have chosen to play a front three of Simone Zaza, Domenico Berardi and Reto Ziegler.

Milan will be hoping that the second half of their season goes a lot better than their first. They have already lost six games in Serie A, which is one more game than they have won. Their form away from home this season has also been poor, with just one victory on their travels.

Despite Milan's troubles away from the San Siro, Sassuolo have struggled to pick up points at the Stadio Alberto Braglia. They have the worst home record in Serie A, having won only two of their fixtures this season.

The visitors begin this evening's game a massive 30 points adrift of league leaders Juventus. Their immediate target will be closing the gap on Hellas Verona, who are in the final European qualifying spot in fifth place.

PREDICTION: While Milan have been far from their best this season, they have more than enough quality in their team to beat Sassuolo. The hosts will be desperate for the points, but they have struggled since winning promotion from Serie B last season and will find it hard to stop Milan's attacking players. I think the visitors will win 2-0 this evening.

The final Serie A match of the day is just minutes from kick off. Earlier this afternoon, Juventus came from behind to beat Cagliari 4-1, Roma claimed a comfortable 4-0 win over Genoa and Napoli kept up the pressure on the top two by beating Hellas Verona 3-0 away from home.

The players are out on the pitch and the action will be starting in a couple of minutes.

KICKOFF! We are underway at the Stadio Alberto Braglia!

De Jong has the first attempt on goal of the evening, as he tries his luck from around 25 yards out from goal, but his curling effort is hit straight at the keeper, who holds comfortably.

Sassuolo have got an early chance to get a number of players into the box, after winning a free kick to the right hand side of the area.

Berardi decides to go for goal instead of delivering a cross and his low, curling effort lacks enough power to seriously trouble Abbiati.

CHANCE! Berardi is clearly confident in his shooting abilities this evening, and he cuts inside from the right, before drilling in a low effort, but again the strike doesn't have enough power to beat the keeper, who gathers with ease.

GOAL! Sassuolo 0-1 AC Milan (Robinho)

AC Milan have taken the lead! De Jong steals the ball just outside the area, before slipping it through to Robinho, who keeps his composure, and finishes low past the keeper.

GOAL! Sassuolo 0-2 AC Milan (Balotelli)

It looks like Sassuolo are going to be in for a long evening, as Milan double their lead. Cristante does well to get to the byline down the right hand side, before pulling the ball back for Balotelli to slot home.

GOAL! Sassuolo 1-2 AC Milan (Berardi)

What an incredible start to this game, we have seen three goals in the first 15 minutes, and the home side are right back in it! Berardi does brilliantly to get in behind the Milan defence and latches onto a threaded ball to slot past the arriving Abbiati.

The visitors have responded extremely well to going two goals down and are looking to push forward for a second goal. They must make sure that they are not left over-exposed at the back, as Milan have already shown their class this evening.

The game is wide open in the centre of midfield, which has led to the exciting start we have had. We are starting to see a few late challenges creeping into each team's play, with the referee being rather lenient so far.

Zaza has looked a big threat for the home side, and he takes down a long ball brilliantly before trying to work space to shoot, but sees his effort blocked by the defence.

Berardi has a shot on goal from long range for the home side, but his attempt, while well-struck, is hit straight at the keeper.

GOAL! Sassuolo 2-2 AC Milan (Berardi)

The home side have fought back from two goals down, and Berardi has scored his second of the game! The striker latched onto a long ball in the box and saw his initial attempt blocked by the defence, before reacting the quickest to volley a low strike past Abbiati. What a great response by Sassuolo!

YELLOW CARD! Bonera picks up a booking for a late challenge and gives away a free kick in a dangerous position just outside the box.

CHANCE! Zaza takes the set piece and curls in a fantastic left footed effort, that Abbiati manages to push wide.

CHANCE! Milan come forward at pace and Balotelli picks up the ball wide on the left, before cutting inside and firing a strike just wide of the far post.

YELLOW CARD! Balotelli is lucky to avoid a sending off, after appearing to use an elbow on Antei whilst holding up a long ball.

YELLOW CARD! Antei picks up a booking for fouling Balotelli.

The home side have looked impressive in attack this evening, and Gazzola does well to get into a crossing position down the right hand side, but his final ball in is too close to the keeper.

GOAL! Sassuolo 3-2 AC Milan (Berardi)

Unbelievably the home side have taken the lead! Longhi whips in a wonderful cross from the left wing, and Berardi arrives in the box to fire the ball into the net, and complete his hat-trick!

YELLOW CARD! Kurtic picks up a booking for Sassuolo.

HALF TIME: Sassuolo 3-2 AC Milan

The referee decides that no additional stoppage time is needed and brings an end to a stunning first half of football. It looked as if AC Milan were going to run away with the three points when they went 2-0 up inside of 13 minutes, but a hat-trick from Domenico Berardi has turned the game on it's head!

Hat-trick hero Berardi is currently on loan from league leaders Juventus, having joined them from Sassuolo in September. The 19-year-old must have impressed manager Antonio Conte with his display.

Berardi's treble is only the fourth hat-trick of the Serie A season, and is the forward's second of the campaign. If he keeps scoring goals at this rate, then is a call up to Italy's World Cup squad within his reach?

Massimiliano Allegri will be disappointed with his side's collapse from two goals up. Their defending has been shocking and it is easy to see why they have struggled in the league this season. He does have options on the bench to turn this game around, and new signing Keisuke Honda may well be introduced at some stage in the second half.

The players are back out and we are moments away from the second half.

The home side kick off and get the game back underway.

GOAL! Sassuolo 4-2 AC Milan (Berardi)

Sassuolo have scored again, and Berardi's night keeps getting better! Kurtic is slipped in down the left hand side, and he pulls the ball back to Berardi, whose shot takes a slight deflection and ends up in the back of the net.

The home side have started this half fantastically and Zaza comes close to finding the net with a first time volley from Chibsah's lofted pass, but lashes the ball just wide of the post.

There is a momentary break in the proceedings, as Ariaudo receives treatment, after an awkward fall.

DOUBLE SUBSTITUTION: Montolivo and Pazzini come on for Milan to replace Nocerino and Christante

Zapata gifts the home side a free kick in a dangerous position after a clumsy challenge on Zaza.

Milan manage to get the ball clear from the set piece, but Sassuolo win it back and manage to keep position, as they try to find a way through the defence.

YELLOW CARD! Zaza is the next player to be booked, for a foul from behind on Kaka.

Milan are showing signs of their frustration, and Kaka is lucky to not pick up a yellow card following a late challenge.

CHANCE! Balotelli comes within inches of pulling a goal back for Milan. He picks up the ball on the left, before driving inside, and firing a strike just wide of the goal, with the keeper at full stretch.

YELLOW CARD! The cards are starting to pile up now, and Gazzola is booked for tugging back Balotelli.

SUBSTITUTION: Honda comes on to make his debut for Milan, replacing Robinho.

It is not the ideal game for the Japanese international to make his debut for the club, but if he can help them to get anything from this game, he will be an instant Milan hero.

CHANCE! Milan again come close to finding the net. De Sciglio plays a low ball across the box, and Kaka arrives to fire in an effort, that takes a deflection and drops just over the bar.

CHANCE! Milan are piling on the pressure now. Montolivo sees a long range effort pushed wide by the keeper, before the ball is played back into the box, with Honda heading it into the path of Pazzini, who deflects it wide.

Montolivo does well to burst into the box, after exchanging passes with Kaka, but he is forced wide, and his attempted cross into the middle is claimed by the keeper.

Honda has a chance to show his free kick taking qualities, but with a number of players to find in the box, he overhits the set piece and it is easy for the keeper to claim.

SUBSTITUTION: Four-goal hero Berardi is given a standing ovation as he leaves the pitch to be replaced by Schelotto.

YELLOW CARD! Sassuolo keeper Pegolo is booked for time-wasting.

Milan don't look like scoring at the moment, and Sassuolo are the more likely to grab the next goal, with plenty of space available for them on the counter-attack.

OFF THE POST! Honda comes within inches of scoring on his Milan debut, as he curls a brilliant strike from just outside the box against the post. The ball comes out to Pazzini, who delivers a low cross that Kaka meets, but the keeper somehow keeps out his close-range effort.

GOAL! Sassuolo 4-3 AC Milan (Montolivo)

With four minutes left to play, Milan are one goal away from pulling level, as Montolivo fires in a low drive from 25 yards out beyond the reach of the keeper, and into the bottom left hand corner of the net.

OFF THE BAR! Milan should be level! Balotelli sees his close-range header brilliantly saved by the keeper, and Pazzini is on hand to meet the rebound, but powers a header against the bar!

Balotelli goes down in the box under pressure from Antei, but the referee feels that there was not enough contact to warrant a penalty.

There are going to be five minutes of stoppage time at the end of the game!

Milan are desperately trying to find a fourth goal and Pazzini tries to get a shot away in the box, but he gives away a free kick in the process.

Honda delivers a fantastic ball into the box, but the keeper is out quickly off his line to punch the ball clear. That might just be Milan's last chance of the game.

FULL TIME: Sassuolo 4-3 AC Milan

What a night for Sassuolo! They have come from two goals down to beat AC Milan 4-3, with Domenico Berardi scoring all of their goals! This is a night that they will treasure and could prove crucial to their hopes of Serie A survival!

Tonight's victory moves Sassuolo out of the relegation zone and up to 16th in the table, while Milan fell to their seventh league defeat of the season.

That's all we've got time for after a fantastic night of Serie A football. Please stay with us at Sports Mole for all of the latest results and news, but from me, it's goodnight!

ID:130005: cacheID:130005:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:27716:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
AC Milan's Brazilian forward Kaka kicks and score during the Serie A football match between AC Milan and Atalanta at San Siro Stadium in Milan on January 6, 2014
Read Next:
Preview: Sassuolo vs. Milan
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1SassuoloSassuolo1494129121731
2SpeziaSpezia148602281430
3Pisa1493225121330
4Cesena146442319422
5Cremonese146351917221
6BariBari144821813520
7Palermo144641412218
8Brescia145361820-218
9Juve StabiaJuve Stabia144641316-318
10Mantova144551417-317
11CatanzaroCatanzaro1421021513216
12Sampdoria144461719-216
13Carrarese144461215-316
14Cosenza CalcioCosenza144731414015
15Modena143651920-115
16Reggiana143651416-215
17SudtirolSudtirol144191423-913
18Salernitana143471322-913
19Cittadella14338822-1412
20FrosinoneFrosinone14176819-1110


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!