New AC Milan coach Paulo Fonseca got his first Serie A win in style, and it couldn’t have come at a better time for the Rossoneri as they kickstarted their season against Venezia.
A devastating opening half an hour set Milan on its way to a convincing 4-0 win over the newly promoted side on Saturday for their first victory of the season after two draws and a loss.
The result and the manner of the victory are a timely confidence boost ahead of a crucial week. Fonseca’s team hosts Liverpool in the Champions League on Tuesday followed by a Serie A derby match against defending champion Inter Milan.
Rafael Leão and Theo Hernández were benched for Milan’s last match but were back in the starting lineup and the pair combined to score the opener after just 90 seconds.
Hernandez won the ball in midfield and played it to Leao who gave it back to him with a delicious backheeled flick on the half turn. That sent the France international down the left and he squeezed his shot past Jesse Joronen at the near post.
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Milan doubled their lead in the 16th minute when Youssouf Fofana headed in a Christian Pulisic corner, and the United States international got on the scoresheet himself in the 25th minute by converting a penalty after Tammy Abraham was tripped by Joronen.
Milan were awarded another penalty less than three minutes later after the video assistant referee spotted Venezia defender Joel Schingtienne standing on Leao’s foot.
Abraham stepped up to net his first goal for Milan since joining from Roma last month.
It is the first time Milan have scored four times in the first half hour of a Serie A match since 1958.
Francesco Zampano thought he pulled one back for Venezia but it was ruled out and Venezia midfielder Hans Nicolussi Caviglia was shown a second yellow card for a foul on Ruben Loftus-Cheek and sent off.
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