AC Milan defeated Cagliari 3-1 in controversial fashion at the Stadio Meazza on Saturday evening in Serie A, despite protests from the club’s ultras, the home side romped to a win.
A Jeremy Menez double, including a hotly contested penalty gave Filippo Inzaghi’s men the victory. Cagliari had momentarily drawn level through a cool Diego Farias finish, but a fine Philippe Mexes volley put the Rossoneri back in front moments later.
Cagliari dominated the opening proceedings as Milan struggled to get out of their own half.
Danilo Avelar received the ball out on the left and chested down well before cutting back with a low cross. It found Marco Sau, who intelligently touched the ball past Gabriel Paletta but could only place his shot wide.
Milan finally had a chance of note. A quick break down the left from Antonelli saw the full back swing in a good cross, but frustratingly for the Rossoneri only Mattia Destro was in the box and the ball was cleared behind.
Avelar was proving to be a danger and his well worked cross was touched on by Paul-Jose M’Poku to Farias at the back post. Milan were bailed out by Antonelli’s clearance and the counter attack saw the Rossoneri break the deadlock.
Andrea Poli collected the ball and drew several defenders towards him on the edge of the box before playing in Menez. The Frenchman cut the ball away from Godfred Donsah with his first touch before curling a wonderful shot past Zeljko Brkic.
Moments later Milan threatened again. A deep Honda free-kick was met acrobatically by Mexes, but the overhead kick was cleared behind.
Cagliari were struggling and Milan almost doubled the lead just before half-time. Menez received the ball in a similar position to his goal but rather than shooting, the winger cut back for Marco van Ginkel to blaze over.
Immediately after the restart Cagliari equalised. A Milan attack was broken down on the edge of the Cagliari box by Albin Ekdal who launched a wonderful long ball for Farias. The Cagliari attacker burst into the box, before dummying past Mexes’ lunge and slotting into the bottom corner.
Cagliari were on level terms for all of one minute, as Milan hit back straight away. A Menez corner was aimed at Mexes on the edge of the box, who met the ball with a volley into the ground which bounced into the far corner.
Falling behind again so quickly seemed to knock the confidence out of the Sardinians, as they struggled to press the Milan defence.
The Rossoneri were almost in for a third as the wonderful Menez burst down the left and played a fine through ball for Destro. The January signing cut the ball back for Honda, but the Japan international couldn’t reach the tap-in chance.
Cagliari came within inches of forcing an equaliser through two of their substitutes. Andrea Cossu found space in the box and played it back to Joao Pedro, who could only clip the top of the bar.
Controversy soon followed, as substitute Alessio Cerci was chopped down by Farias. Despite replays indicating that the tackle was made outside the area, Milan were awarded a penalty. Menez made no mistake, his stuttered spot-kick sending Brkic the wrong way.
