AC Milan kicked off their 2024 Soccer Champions Tour with a hard-fought 3-2 victory against Manchester City at Yankee Stadium in New York. The Rossoneri, under the watchful eye of owner Gerry Cardinale, delivered an impressive performance, highlighted by a brace from Lorenzo Colombo and a crucial goal from Marco Nasti.
The match was not just about the scoreline; it also featured the debut of Milan’s new Away Kit by PUMA, which the team unveiled for the second half. However, the excitement was slightly tempered by an injury to Alessandro Florenzi, who suffered a knock to his knee.
The pre-season tour is shaping up positively for AC Milan, especially with their attacking play showing real promise. The squad, featuring a mix of youth and experience, stood out against a reworked Manchester City side, which still boasted the pedigree of English champions. Alexis Saelemaekers’ performance was particularly noteworthy, adding depth to Milan’s attack.
Match Overview
The game began with Milan quickly finding their rhythm. In the 8th minute, Ruben Loftus-Cheek tested City’s keeper Ederson with a sharp shot. Just ten minutes later, Samuel Chukwueze fired just wide after a clever setup by Saelemaekers. However, it was Manchester City who struck first, with Haaland slotting the ball into the top corner in the 19th minute after a well-placed pass from Bobb. The Norwegian striker nearly doubled City’s lead in the 27th minute, but his shot went over the bar.
Milan responded quickly through the Chukwueze-Colombo combination. In the 30th minute, Chukwueze delivered a perfect cross that Colombo headed home to equalize. Just four minutes later, the duo struck again, with Colombo scoring a low volley to complete his brace. Despite some dangerous moments from City’s Haaland, Milan’s defense held firm, and the teams went into halftime with Milan leading 2-1.
The second half saw Manchester City come out more aggressively, and they leveled the score in the 55th minute through McAtee, who headed in a precise cross from Hamilton. As both teams made substitutions, the match became more open, with fatigue starting to show. But Milan found their winner in the 78th minute when Nasti, who had been pressing hard, finally beat Ederson with a well-placed shot, assisted by Saelemaekers.
Manchester City pushed for an equalizer in the closing minutes but couldn’t break down Milan’s defense. The final whistle blew with Milan securing a 3-2 win.
Looking Ahead
AC Milan will continue their Soccer Champions Tour in the United States with upcoming matches against Real Madrid in Chicago and Barcelona in Baltimore. The victory over Manchester City sets a positive tone for the rest of their pre-season as they prepare for the challenges of the upcoming Serie A campaign.
