Hellas Verona beat AC Milan 2-1 at a packed Stadio Bentegodi in Verona on Saturday evening in the first game of the Serie A 2013/14 season.
An early goal from Andrea Poli opened the scoring for Milan, before Luca Toni levelled in the 30th minute and then the 36-year-old scored again early in the second half to give Verona a deserved win.
The Rossoneri dominated the opening exchanges as Verona struggled to acclimatise to Serie A and Mario Balotelli was the first to test Rafael in the Verona goal.
New Milan signing Andrea Poli made Milan’s pressure pay when he scored the first goal of the season on 14 minutes, slotting past Rafael after squirming between two defenders after being sent through by a clever pass from Balotelli.
The tide began to turn and the Gialloblu began to look dangerous midway through the first half.
High-pressing saw the Mastini twice win the ball high up the pitch from Riccardo Montolivo but Romulo failed to capitalise as Milan defenders got back quickly to snuff out the danger.
Luca Toni made Verona’s pressure count when he equalised on 30 minutes with a header from a Jorginho corner after getting above Kevin Constant at the far post.
A left foot shot from outside the box by Toni on 35 minutes didn’t appear dangerous but Christian Abbiati appeared to struggle with the bounce and looked uncomfortable as he pushed it out.
Bosko Jankovic was booked for a foul on Balotelli and the Milan forward blasted over from the subsequent free-kick and was met with ironic applause from the Verona fans.
Verona started the second half as they ended the first and Martinho’s pace causing problems for Cristian Zapata, with the Colombian forced to foul the Gialloblu player. Jankovic headed straight at Abbiati from the ensuing free kick and the Rossoneri stopper did well to tip over.
Toni scored again seven minutes into the second half after getting his head onto a cross floated across the face of goal by Jankovic that concluded a clinical Verona counterattack.
Milan came back and won a couple of corners and Phillipe Mexes got on the end of a threatening cross, only to slice his bicycle kick into the air.
Martinho found more space down the left flank and his shot-cum-cross forced an acrobatic save from Abbiati.
Milan saw most of the ball in the last 20 minutes while Verona looked dangerous on the counterattack but neither side managed to fashion clear-cut chances.
Balotelli served substitute Robinho with 10 minutes left to play but the Brazilian’s left foot shot flashed across the face of goal.
Montolivo tested Rafael with seven minutes to go but the Brazilian keeper did well to get down and push the ball away from danger and Verona’s hero Toni was replaced to a standing ovation.
Balotelli hit a shot first time from the edge of the box but Rafael dived to push the curling effort out for a corner.
Substitute Daniele Cacia forced Abbiati into a fine save but Milan continued to press, but despite one last chance at the death with a free kick out wide Verona held out for a famous win over the Rossoneri.
