AC Milan 2-0 Cesena: Bonaventura and Pazzini see Rossoneri through to victory

Date: 22nd February 2015 at 5:08pm
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AC Milan defeated Cesena 2-0 at the San Siro on Sunday afternoon in Serie A action.

Pressure on Milan coach Filippo Inzaghi was mounting ahead of the encounter with only one win for the Rossoneri in their last five Serie A matches, while the Cavallucci Marini were adrift in the relegation zone after recording only three victories all season.

A first half effort from Giacomo Bonaventura and a late Giampaolo Pazzini penalty were enough to secure all three points for the home side despite Milan missing a host of chances throughout the match.

The Rossoneri came out in top gear for the game and had the ball in the net within two minutes after a well worked short corner, before the effort was ruled out for offside.

The ball found its way to the edge of the box, where Bonaventura tested the gloves of Nicola Leali in the Cesena goal, however, the young goalkeeper could do nothing to prevent Italy international Andrea Poli heading in. However play was ruled dead due to Mattia Destro being in Leali’s line of vision on the initial shot.

Milan continued to control possession in and around the final third but the away side looked dangerous on the counter attack as Milan Djuric had an effort on goal blocked for a corner and Gregoire Defrei had an effort from distance easily held by Christian Abbiati.

Milan got the ball in the net to open the scoring through Bonaventura when Jeremy Menez passed to the 25-year-old on the edge of the box, who’s powerful shot sailed through a cluster of bodies and into the bottom corner of the goal.

The Rossoneri then settled into a controlled passing game, although both sides struggled to created any clear goal scoring opportunities until Riccardo Montolivo shot over the bar from distance just before half time.

Cesena almost equalised late in stoppage time when Giuseppe De Feudis shot from the left side of the penalty area but Abbiati saved well with his left palm to ensure his side went into half time ahead.

Destro curled an effort just over early in the second period and Djuric again got into a good position before his volley was blocked in the box.

The home side again came close as Bonaventura hit the post with an effort from the outside of his boot and De Feudis shot well over from the edge of the box for the away side.

As the second half progressed Menez shot over again as both sides struggled to test either goalkeeper and substitute Giampaolo Pazzini could not test Leali with a headed effort inside the six yard box or a right-footed effort which hit the side netting.

A series of half chances fell for both sides in the final ten minutes until Cesena gave away a late penalty for a foul on Luca Antonelli following a free kick.

Pazzini stepped up and converted past Leali to ensure the points went to the Milan outfit to keep the Rossoneri’s hopes of qualifying for Europe still alive.

 

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