AC Milan secured a comfortable victory with a scoreline of 3-0 against Monza, ensuring they remain in contention with Internazionale and Juventus in the Serie A standings.
Jan-Carlo Simic, a teenager, had an impressive first appearance for AC Milan by scoring a goal after being substituted in their Serie A match against Monza, resulting in a 3-0 victory. Despite facing injuries, The Rossoneri began the game strongly and took an early lead thanks to an extraordinary individual goal from Tijjani Reijnders, who skillfully maneuvered past four defenders before finding the back of the net.
Monza also had their opportunities, as Lorenzo Colombo had three of his shots blocked, and Oliver Giroud missed a clear chance at the opposite side of the field. Milan faced more difficulties with injuries when Tommaso Pobega had to leave the field due to a knock, resulting in the debut of 18-year-old Simic for the club.
Simic definitely seized the chance presented to him by scoring a goal from Rafael Leao’s precise pass, making it a remarkable Sunday for himself. Milan controlled the second half, generating several opportunities, including a near miss from Christian Pulisic. The team sealed their triumph with a third goal, as substitute Noah Okafor brilliantly concluded a one-touch play, assisted by Giroud. Nevertheless, Milan’s happiness was not long-lasting, as Okafor had to leave the field due to a possible thigh injury shortly after. As a result, Milan remains in the third position in the standings and narrows the gap with league leaders Inter Milan to six points, while Monza drops to 11th place.
One noteworthy aspect of the game was the remarkable debut of Jan-Carlo Simic. With his parents observing from the stands at the San Siro stadium, the young player made a lasting impression on Milan’s history by skillfully sliding in at the far post to convert Leao’s cross just 20 minutes after he was substituted into the game. The defender displayed composure in his goal-scoring finish, making it a memorable day for the 18-year-old. Simic deservedly received the Player of the Match award for not only scoring in his debut but also playing a crucial role in his team’s clean sheet and securing the victory. He even came close to scoring a second goal from a corner, demonstrating his attacking abilities.
Here are the ratings for the players from both teams:
AC MILAN: Maignan 8, Florenzi 8, Kjaer 8, Tomori 6, Theo Hernandez 6; Loftus-Cheek 5, Reijnders 8, Pobega n/a; Pulisic 7, Leao 7; Giroud 5. Substitutes: Simic with a rating of 8, Okafor, Bennacer with no rating given, Bartesaghi with no rating given, Chukwueze with no rating given.
In MONZA’s lineup, Di Gregorio performed at a level of 7, D’Ambrosio also with a rating of 7, Caldirola with a rating of 6, A Carboni with a rating of 6; Pereira with a rating of 6, Pessina with a rating of 5, Gagliardini with a rating of 6, Kyriakopoulos with a rating of 5; Colpani with a rating of 5, Mota Carvalho with a rating of 5; Colombo with a rating of 5. Substitutions: Maric with a rating of 6, Ciurria with a rating of 6, Akpa-Akpro not applicable, Carboni not applicable, Izzo not applicable.
Now, let’s review the key moments of the game:
In the 4th minute, Milan scores a goal! Reijnders demonstrates his exceptional skills as he maneuvers past five Monza players and cleverly slips the ball through the legs of the goalkeeper.
At the 27th minute, there is an incredible save! The experienced Florenzi unleashes a powerful shot from approximately 30 yards away, but Di Gregorio pulls off an impressive save to deny him. In the 41st minute of the game, Simic scored his first goal for AC Milan. He managed to slide in at the far post and convert Leao’s cross from a short distance just 20 minutes after being substituted into the match.
In the 76th minute, Milan scored another goal. Okafor, who was a substitute, calmly placed the ball into the net using the inside of his right foot after receiving a delicate assist from Giroud.
An important fact from the game is that Jan-Carlo Simic became the third youngest player to score for AC Milan during the period when three points were awarded for a win. When he reached the age of 18 years and 229 days, he became a part of the prestigious group that includes Alberto Paloschi and Alexandre Pato.
AC Milan had a remarkable day as Simic made a remarkable debut, attracting significant attention. Despite facing injuries, the team displayed determination and narrowed the distance between themselves and the top-ranked team in the league.