Game recap: Milan 3-1 Lazio

THE ROSSONERI kicked off the 2014/2015 season with a comfortable 3-1 win over Lazio, in front of the home crowd at the San Siro, as Coach Filippo Inzaghi picked up his first official Serie A win, thanks to goals from Keisuke Honda, Sulley Muntari and a penalty conversion from summer signing Jeremy Menez.

The game started very positively for Milan, as in the 7th minute, midfielder Honda opened the scoring after a rapid counter attack that saw wonder boy El Shaarawy race down the left and send in a cross to Honda who slots past the Lazio keeper.

Ten minutes later Frenchman Menez took to the races down the right hand side and sent in a beautiful cross as he reached the end line that was just a hair too long for SES to control. Had he been able to bring it down at the far post, the score surely would have been doubled.

Highlights: Milan 3-1 Lazio
Milan-Lazio: Official line-ups

The next few minutes see Lazio go on the attack as Keita and Antonio Candreva get involved in the action and muster a few efforts that the defense pushes away. Following that spell, the game all but slowed down as any dangers to either goals became few and far between. That is how the play ended at half time with the Diavolo players earning a much needed break from the action.

Out of the break it was Milan on their back foot thwarting away a few Lazio attempts to find an equalizer. The 56th minute is when Milan doubled their lead when right back Ignazio Abate played in a pinpoint cross that found Muntari making a forward run and he finished it off. Seven minutes later Menez converted from the penalty spot and it looked to be smooth sailing from there.

The only hiccup that occurred for Milan all night was a defensive blunder, when Alex da Costa tried to slide and clear a low cross to safety, but instead the ball creeped into the net. Five minutes from time the boys nearly had their fourth of the night when Milan’s heartthrob SES found substitute Mbaye Niang but the ball breaks for fellow substitute Pablo Armero who drills the ball first time into the side netting with lots of goal to aim at.

Lazio was awarded a penalty when Abate tripped up Candreva in the box but keeper Diego Lopez comes away with the save which should boost his confidence in the coming weeks. Overall Milan played very well, with the defensive line showing some cracks which will surely gel over the next few weeks as they players begin to play together more often.

As always, Forza Milan!