AC Milan cruised to a 2-0 win over Perugia in a Coppa Italia third round encounter at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on Monday night.
Goals from Keisuke Honda and new signing Luiz Adriano gave Milan an early two-goal lead that proved to be insurmountable for the Serie B outfit.
Honda was dangerous from the outset and forced Antonio Rosati into an early save.
It was a sign of things to come as Honda scored the opening goal after just ten minutes. Luca Antonelli led a rapid counter-attack, squaring to Luiz Adriano whose dummy sent the Japanese international through to slot home from twelve yards.
Moments later Rosati flew to tip a Honda free-kick over the bar.
New signing Luiz Adriano scored Milan’s second with a composed finish from inside the penalty area thanks to Honda’s through-ball, which followed some fine one-touch build-up play.
Fellow new recruit Carlos Bacca thought he had made it 3-0 but his piledriver was ruled out for offside as Luiz Adriano was obstructing Rosati’s view.
Early in the second half, Matteo De Scilgio’s effort was turned away by Rosati while David Lanzafame blazed high and wide after a mazy run as the home side threatened for the first time.
A flowing Milan counter-attack then saw Luca Antonelli’s shot deflected over for a corner Bacca shot straight at Rosati before Lanzafame was sent off for the away side after picking up his second yellow card.
Rosati were again alert, sliding to deny Luiz Adriano after a poor back-pass.
The latter stages saw few chances as Milan maintained possession in what had become a training exercise for the home side.
The victory sees Sinisa Mihajlovic’s side progress to the fourth round of the Coppa Italia but the Rossoneri will now turn their attentions to Sunday’s opening Serie A fixture, away to Fiorentina on Sunday evening.
