Sassuolo 3–2 AC Milan: Berardi’s brilliance secures controversial win for Neroverdi

Date: 17th May 2015 at 2:29pm
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Sassuolo registered a 3-2 win in contentious circumstances against nine-man AC Milan at the Mapei Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Domenico Berardi grabbed a first-half brace, albeit his first coming from the assistance of the referees. Milan mounted a comeback thanks to a superb solo strike from Giacomo Bonaventura and an Alex header, however it was rendered inconsequential with Berardi completing his hat-trick in the second-half.

After both sides struggled to complete passes in the opening exchanges, it was the hosts who took the lead in rather controversial fashion.

Domenico Berardi’s innocuous long-range effort proved too hot to handle for Diego Lopez, as the Spaniard fumbled the ball across the goal-line.

However, replays confirmed the ball only partially crossed the line, despite the Rossoneri’s protests with the linesman and goal-line official and much to Lopez’s dismay.

Sassuolo continued to probe the Milan goal, with the visitors appearing shell-shocked and lacking energy and ideas following the Neroverdi’s debatable strike.

Berardi netted his second on the half-our mark, latching onto a wonderful Simone Missiroli through-ball, exposing a woeful Milan defence to emphatically half-volley past Lopez.

That seemed to spark Filippo Inzaghi’s men into action as Bonaventura danced his way through the box, audaciously toe-poking his shot into the bottom corner two minutes later.

Keisuke Honda tried his luck from distance only to see his strike parried by gloveman Andrea Consigli and rebound into the path of Mattia Destro whose instinctive header fell inches wide of the upright.

The away side maintained its relentless pressure deep into the first-half, but could not find the equaliser as Alex’s powerful freekick was metres off target.

After the interval, Inzaghi looked to his bench and brought on Suso at the expense of Ignazio Abate.

And Inzaghi’s decision turned out to be a master-stroke as an inviting cross from the former Liverpool man found Alex who headed home on 51 minutes.

Although it was Alex who restored parity as the centre-back beat the onrushing Consigli to the ball, leaving a lot to be desired by the Sassuolo goalkeeper.

Milan were reduced to 10-men after Bonaventura was subsequently given his marching orders for a second bookable offence, as he perceived to have blatantly handled the ball – abating the chance of a Rossoneri winner.

Nicola Sansone tested Lopez a minute later with a venomous shot outside the 18-yard-box that flew just over the bar.

Lopez then atoned for his first-half howler with a marvellous reflex save to deny Berardi’s hat-trick and more importantly keeping Milan in the match.

But Milan’s resistance ultimately came unstuck as Berardi scored his third of the afternoon and his 14th of the season – poking home from close-range – capping off another impressive outing.

Stephan El Shaarawy made his long awaited return from injury for the first time since January, but the 22-year-old could not make an impact from the bench.

Milan’s problems were compounded once more when Suso was brandished a straight red card for a dangerous tackle in the final minute of the game.

 

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