AC Milan 2-1 Sassuolo: Rossoneri victory not enough for Europa League
AC Milan defeated Sassuolo 2-1 on Sunday at the San Siro in Serie A.
Sulley Muntari and Nigel De Jong scored in the first half to seemingly assure Milan of the victory early.
However, a number of sending offs and a penalty converted by Zaza allowed Sassuolo to make the final score closer.
Giamapolo Pazzini and Kaka started at forward while Seedorf had usual starter Mario Balotelli plus Stephan El Shaarawy on the bench.
Muntari scored in the second minute with a strike outside the box that hit off the top left corner crossbar and deflected into the goal.
Sassuolo almost answered in the ninth minute when Simone Zaza headed a free kick to Lorenzo Ariaudo in the center of the box but his shot went high.
Pazzini seemingly added a second goal in the 21st minute when he stepped behind the defense on a pass from Adil Rami and finished the shot.
However, the official had his flag up for offside and on replay it did look like his shoulder was past the defenders.
Later in the first half, Kaka won a free kick outside the box on a foul by Paolo Cannavaro.
De Jong’s free kick was deflected by the wall and went past the keeper to the right as he dove left for the second goal.
Philippe Mexes was lucky to remain on the pitch a few minutes later as he went for the ball through a Sassuolo player from behind and was shown a yellow.
A third goal looked likely for Milan late in the first half on a breakaway as Adel Taarabt found Kaka with a pass in the box on his left.
However, Raman Chibsah was able to poke the ball away at the last second for a corner, which Sassuolo cleared.
As the teams took the pitch for the second half, Milan needed to score two additional goals if Parma and Torino remained scoreless.
However, it was Sassuolo who had the best chances early in the half.
Simone Zaza got the ball behind the Milan defense with a clear path to the goal.
However, Adil Rami was able to get back and deflect the ball as Zaza was settling the ball to take a shot, saving the two goal lead.
El Shaarawy made an appearance early in the second half and almost immediately got his name on the score sheet with a shot that Pomini needed to clear to the right.
Seconds later Pazzini had another chance to the right that went high over the net.
Milan’s strategy changed in the 67th minute when Mexes committed a dangerous foul outside the box and was shown his second yellow card.
Minutes later Balotelli became Milan’s third sub, denying fifteen-year-old Hachim Mastour a possible appearance.
As a quality Pazzini shot was saved by Pomini’s fingertips, word came down that Parma had scored again, giving them a 2-0 lead and the sixth spot in the table.
Late in the second half Zaza got free in the Milan box and seemingly scored, but was correctly ruled offside.
A minute later he had another chance on goal that went wide across the goal.
Paolo Cannovaro finished his season in the showers early as he cut down El Shaarawy and was shown a straight red.
Milan finished their season with drama on a late penalty. Sansone received a pass in the box behind Mattia De Scglio and the defender took the Sassuolo man down.
De Sciglio was shown a straight red and Zaza converted the penalty to draw Sassuolo within one.
As the final whistle blew, Milan players and fans knew they had missed qualifying for a European tournament for the first time since 1999.
http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2014/05/ac-milan-2-1-sassuolo-rossoneri-victory-not-enough-for-europa-league/
