AC MILAN WIN THE FIRST LEG: 1-0 AGAINST FIORENTINA

Advantage Rossonere. AC Milan won the first leg of the Coppa Italia quarter-final against Fiorentina. The winner was scored in the 73rd minute by Martina Piemonte, who bagged her third goal of 2023. It was an important win and put AC Milan in a strong position for the return leg at the PUMA House of Football (to be played 7 or 8 February). A positive performance against a strong Fiorentina side (who sit third in Serie A), and the Rossonere also managed to rest important players such as Giuliani, Asllani and Mascarello. Furthermore, Aniek Nouwen made her first start. 

AC Milan continued their excellent recent form, recording a fifth consecutive clean sheet between Serie A and Coppa Italia, while registering a 40th goal of the season. Belief is growing, and the group will be confident ahead of a big match on Saturday against Inter in the derby, a game that will be crucial for a number of reasons: the league table, to keep this run of form going, and a chance to "avenge" the 4-0 defeat suffered in the first clash of the season.

CHECK OUT THE GALLERY FROM FIORENTINA v AC MILAN

MATCH REPORT
The match was affected by a strong wind in Florence and in the first half Fiorentina goalkeeper Schroffenegger battled with the Rossonere forwards. In the 3rd minute she saved Piemonte's powerful right footed-effort from a narrow angle, before denying Adami in the 15th minute and then Lindsey Thomas in the 29th minute.  Fiorentina had a few bright moments, but struggled to trouble AC Milan keeper Selena Babb, who was playing in place of Laura Giuliani.

The second half saw good work from Fiorentina to deny Piemonte's close-range header. The Viola woke up, and in the 54th minute Hammarlund went past Nouwen and struck the crossbar. The woodwork was soon hit again, as Vigilucci responded for AC Milan with a right-footed volley that struck the frame of the goal. Panico's side responded, and Kajan nearly put them ahead with an effort that went just wide. In the 73rd minute, the goal finally arrived: Árnadóttir's free-kick found the head of Piemonte, whose far-post header beat Schroffenegger. The Rossonere managed to navigate a tense final few minutes, denying the hosts any clear-cut chances, and they will return to Milan for the second leg in control of the tie.

MATCH DETAILS

FIORENTINA 0-1 AC MILAN

FIORENTINA (4-4-2): Schroffenegger; Breitner, Agard, Eržen, Tucceri Cimini; Jóhannsdóttir, Severini, Vero (78' Longo), Monnecchi (63' Catena); Kajan, Hammarlund. Subs: Menta, Jackmon, Tortelli, Parisi, Baldi, Vitale, Russo. Coach: Panico. 

AC MILAN (4-2-3-1): Babb; Árnadóttir, Fusetti (67' Mesjasz), Nouwen, Thrige (67' Bergamaschi); Adami (72' Guagni), Grimshaw; Soffia (50' Vigilucci), K. Dubcová, Thomas; Piemonte. Subs: Giuliani; Carage; Mascarello; Asllani, M. Dubcová. Coach: Ganz.

Referee: Bazzo from Bolzano.
Goal: 73' Piemonte (M).
Booked: 72' Severini (F).

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