AC Milan 3-1 Parma: Menez double sees Rossoneri finally break winless run

Date: 1st February 2015 at 10:43pm
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Jeremy Menez inspired AC Milan to a 3-1 win over Parma at the Stadio Meazza on Sunday evening in Serie A.

Menez scored a penalty before Antonio Nocerino tied it up for Parma, but the Rossoneri scored through Menez again before Cristian Zaccardo wrapped up all three points for Milan, and guaranteeing their first league win since December 14, last year.

Neither side were able to create any real chances in the first ten minutes, with the best chance coming from former Milan player Antonio Nocerino as he botched a first time volley.

However, fortune favored Milan in the 16th minute as they earned a penalty.

Andrea Poli crossed the ball for Zaccardo to head, only for it to ricochet off Alessandro Lucarelli’s arm.

Menez calmly slotted away the penalty into the bottom left corner, sending keeper Antonio Mirante the wrong way.

Massimo Gobbi was then booked for a trip on Keisuke Honda in the 20th minute. Zaccardo thought he had scored during the resulting free kick with a simple finish, but the goal was ruled out for offsides.

Parma equalized shortly after through Nocerino, who smashed in from close range after the Ducali earned a free kick.

Out of nowhere, new signing Mattia Destro came extremely close to scoring when his looping header went just millimeters over the crossbar, with Mirante caught completely out of position.

Diego Lopez stayed alert to make a miraculous double stop in the 38th minute after first stopping a fierce Silvestre Varela rocket that pinballed around the box before pushing the follow up away.

The first half closed with both sides level but with Milan creating the most attacking chances.

Daniele Gollappa was the next to try his luck for the Ducali, releasing a long range drive ending up safely out of play.

Menez scored again in the 56th minute after Cerci used his pace to start a breakneck counter down the right wing.

The former Torino man then passed the ball off to Menez on the top of the box, who drove inside and smashed in an unstoppable left footed effort toward the far corner.

Determined to turn things around, Parma were able to break in the 63rd minute with Alex the only man back for Milan. However, the Ducali were unable to score, with Lopez catching a ferocious shot unleashed by Cristian Rodriguez.

Soon after, Zaccardo found his first goal of the season in another Rossoneri counter.

The fullback fed the ball to Cerci who returned the favor, and the former World Cup winner made no mistake, smashing a first time shot into the top of the net.

Rodriguez went for goal again in the 79th minute, driving another long ranger toward the top left corner, but Lopez had the time to catch.

Menez came off for Giampaolo Pazzini to a standing ovation as Filippo Inzaghi used the last of his substitutes.

Both sides continued to attack during the three minutes of added time, but Milan held out to record their first win of the new year.

 

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