Milan came back from 3-1 down for a 3-3 Sassuolo draw with Noah Okafor’s equaliser, but saw two Samuel Chukwueze goals disallowed for millimetrical offsides.
The Rossoneri were still shaken by their 1-0 Europa League quarter-final home defeat to Roma and rested most of their stars ahead of the second leg on Thursday. Mike Maignan, Pierre Kalulu and Tommaso Pobega were also on the treatment table. The Neroverdi dropped to penultimate place despite back-to-back stalemates with Udinese and Salernitana, but missed Domenico Berardi, Marcus Pederson and former Milan winger Samu Castillejo.
See how the game unfolded on the Liveblog.
The hosts took a surprise early lead with their first attack, as a Cristian Volpato cross from the right was flicked on by Kristian Thorstvedt for Andrea Pinamonti to smash in on the half-volley from 14 yards.
A beautiful finish from Pinamonti 😍
Sassuolo take an early lead over AC Milan!#SerieA pic.twitter.com/Ok02vGqQzc
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 14, 2024
Theo Hernandez drilled across the face of goal after a probable foul on Yunus Musah inches outside the penalty area, while Jeremy Toljan limped off injured.
Sassuolo doubled their lead as Lauriente ran on to the Thorstvedt slide-rule pass and Marco Sportiello only managed to parry, allowing the striker to turn in the rebound from point-blank range.
Sassuolo makes it two in under 10 minutes! 😮
Armand Laurienté takes the opportunity to extend the lead by himself 👏#SerieA pic.twitter.com/LcTtHNDuQe
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 14, 2024
Andrea Consigli made a big save from point-blank range on Malick Thiaw’s header from a corner, then Samuel Chukwueze had the ball in the net, but had wandered inches offside on the delayed Rafael Leao cross.
Milan did get one back moments later, as Leao slalomed between Ruan Tressoldi and Daniel Boloca, seemingly through a gap that wasn’t there, and bent the low finish into the far bottom corner from a tricky angle with his right foot.
Milan hit back 💥
A touch of class from Leão brings his side back into the game 👏#SerieA pic.twitter.com/ECs4NYs5tg
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 14, 2024
Volpato tested Sportiello from distance and the goalkeeper was not pleased with a dreadful Rafael Leao back-pass, but Consigli needed a great double save on Alessandro Florenzi and Theo Hernandez scorchers at the near post.
Sassuolo added a third when Ruan Tressoldi robbed Yacine Adli, Gregoire Defrel’s slide-rule pass found Lauriente in far too much time and space to fire into the far bottom corner.
Lauriente’ really should’ve made it a hat-trick when on the counter-attack, but with several options, he completely misplaced the pass. It proved costly, as Milan immediately went up the other end and scored when Leao’s cross was palmed into the path of Luka Jovic to turn in from close range undisturbed.
Milan are not giving in 😤
Luka Jović capitalises on Leão's threat at goal to close the gap to 3-2!#SerieA pic.twitter.com/oJGLXR6UZc
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 14, 2024
Chukwueze had the ball in the net again on 63 minutes, but once more it was ruled millimetres offside for his shoulder. This time he had run onto an Alessandro Florenzi ball over the top and fired in off the inside of the far post from a tricky angle.
The Milan equaliser was so close!
Chukwueze is denied by VAR for a SECOND time ❌#SerieA pic.twitter.com/ip1myfO4lj
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 14, 2024
Malick Thiaw was booked for a high arm on Pinamonti and will be suspended for the Derby della Madonnina against Inter.
Christian Pulisic fired straight at Consigli from close range on an Adli pull-back from the by-line, with the siege paying off for the equaliser. Giroud and then Matteo Gabbia knocked on a corner for substitute Noah Okafor to volley in from six yards.
MILAN ARE LEVEL! 🤯
Noah Okafor finds the back of the net with one of his first touches of the game 🔥#SerieA pic.twitter.com/11MXqmWcxK
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 14, 2024
Giroud almost turned it around moments later, firing over while slipping from a deflected Pulisic pull-back, as Milan poured forward.
Sassuolo 3-3 Milan
Pinamonti 4 (S), Lauriente 10, 53 (S), Leao 20 (M), Jovic 53 (M), Okafor 84 (M)
Player statistic
| Andrea Pinamonti (Assist: Kristian Thorstvedt) |
 |
4' | ||
| Armand Lauriente | |
10' | ||
| Gian Marco Ferrari |  |
19' | ||
| 20' | |
Rafael Leão (Assist: Yunus Musah) |
| Armand Lauriente (Assist: Grégoire Defrel) |
|
53' | ||
| Ruan Tressoldi | |
57' | ||
| 59' | |
Luka Jovic | ||
| 68' | |
Malick Thiaw | ||
| Andrea Pinamonti | |
69' | ||
| 84' | |
Noah Okafor (Assist: Matteo Gabbia) |
Match statistic
Both times Samuel was onside. But they wanted to do everything to allow inter to win it during the derby. Absolute disgrace.
Chukwueze’s second goal was NOT offside.
There are NO VIDEO ANGLES that show he was offside.
Marotta League well and truly alive here.
He made many changes against Monza and paid for it in catastrophic fashion. But did he learn? of course not. Makes 7 more changes so could throw away 2 more points.