Milan leveled on points with Inter at the top of the Serie A standings after Theo Hernandez stepped off the bench to inspire a 2-0 win over Venezia.
Stefano Pioli kicked off the substitutions after Sunday’s draw with Juventus and the Rossoneri enjoyed a frustrating evening until Hernandez served Brahim Diaz for the lead goal midway through the second half.
Neither team had scored a shot on goal until Diaz flew home from close range at San Siro on Wednesday, but Hernandez scored a second goal to close all three points.
The win for AC Milan continued its impressive start to the season in Serie A despite being impoverished by injuries, with this fourth win out of five unbeaten games.
You just don’t stop those #MilanVenice #SempreMilano pic.twitter.com/GaST1OR6hE
– Milan (@acmilan) September 22, 2021
Fode Ballo-Toure made his first start in a renewed-looking defense for a Milan that dominated ball possession from the start and should have been up front when Ante Rebic fired wide from close range on Sandro Tonali’s corner.
Pierre Kalulu came close to a brilliant opening goal when he intercepted the ball before lunging forward and playing a brace with Rebic, but he placed his right shot to the side of the far post.
Kalulu posed a real threat as he sprinted forward from right-back and Alessandro Florenzi sent his header cross wide, before Dor Peretz went agonizingly close to Venezia’s header leading against the game towards halftime.
The Rossoneri open Venice with a fluid move at the start of the second half, but Tonali fails to finish, shooting out of goal with his right foot from 20 meters.
Díaz flew over the crossbar as the leading goal continued to elude Milan, with Pioli bringing Hernandez, Fikayo Tomori and Alexis Saelemaekers onto the field just before the finish line.
The stamina of the promoted Venezia side was finally broken after 68 minutes when Ismael Bennacer picked Hernandez with a precise pass and his first cross was deflected by Diaz.
Hernandez put Niki Maenpaa to the test with a free-kick before doubling Milan’s lead, hitting with his left after Saelemaekers slipped him eight minutes from time.
Maenpaa took Saelemaekers’ long-range shot to the roof of the net as Milan took home a comfortable victory.
What does it mean? Relief for Pioli
Milan manager Pioli would undoubtedly have been under scrutiny for the changes made if his team failed to capture all three points.
It lacked the quality forward to break through the fight against Venice until Pioli was forced to make changes.
The injured Rossoneri have equaled the score of 13 points in five games last season and are only behind city rivals in goal difference.
Hernandez steps forward
Far defender Hernandez had the impact Pioli was looking for, putting down Diaz’s first lead less than 10 minutes after entering.
He became the first Milan defender to score and assist in a Serie A match since Opta collected that data (2004-05), finding the bottom of the net with a sweet goal.
Florenzi is not up to par
Not the best evening for Florenzi, who gives way to Saelemaekers.
The midfielder showed flashes of skill, but Pioli would have expected more from him as Milan struggled to break the deadlock.
What’s next?
Milan are away to Spezia on Saturday, while Venezia will not return to the pitch until they play Turin at home on Monday.