Theo Hernandez earned and converted a penalty to give Milan a much-needed victory over Fiorentina, with 15-year-old Francesco Camarda making history as Serie A’s youngest ever player.
The Rossoneri were decimated, as Olivier Giroud began a two-match ban with Rafael Leao, Noah Okafor, Simon Kjaer, Ismael Bennacer, Mattia Caldara, Pierre Kalulu, Marco Sportiello and Marco Pellegrino are injured, plus Ruben Loftus-Cheek not fully fit either, so 15-year-old Francesco Camarda was on the bench with Luka Jovic facing his old club. The Viola missed Michael Kayode, Dodo, Gaetano Castrovilli and suspended Luca Ranieri.
Christian Pulisic had the first chance on 23 minutes with a strike off the outside of the boot from the edge of the area, which Pietro Terracciano flew to palm over the crossbar.
Davide Calabria should’ve rolled it across rather than tried to beat Terracciano at the near post on a Tijjani Reijnders slide-rule pass.
Riccardo Sottil fired straight at Mike Maignan and the Nico Gonzalez curler was not far off the top corner of the net.
Terracciano was tested by a deflected Calabria cross at the near post and on the resulting corner the goalkeeper beat away Tommaso Pobega’s header.
The deadlock was broken in first half stoppages, as Jovic’s through ball sent Theo Hernandez sprinting clear on goal, brought down clumsily by Fabiano Parisi. Theo Hernandez converted the penalty himself after a brief run-up.
Both teams had chances straight after the restart, first Samuel Chukwueze’s glancing header tested Terracciano, then Mike Maignan came sprinting off his line to push the ball off Lucas Beltran’s feet after a smart Nico Gonzalez pass.
Nico Gonzalez saw his cross-shot deflected off Malick Thiaw to loop over Maignan and bounce off the far post on the hour mark.
Fiorentina also had penalty appeals for handball, but Ruben Loftus-Cheek had his arms across his torso, so did not seem to be making the silhouette bigger.
Jovic also wasted a great opportunity when springing the offside trap, but the weak prod was denied by an outstretched Terracciano boot.
Milan made history by introducing Francesco Camarda off the bench, who is the youngest ever Serie A player at 15 years and 260 days, born March 10, 2008.
Maxime Lopez curled just wide after a series of efforts were charged down, but deep into stoppages Maignan incredibly denied Rolando Mandragora from point-blank range by parrying the cushioned volley at the back post with his face.
Milan 1-0 Fiorentina
Theo Hernandez pen 45 (M)
Player statistic
| 12' |  |
Arthur Melo | ||
| Theo Hernández |  |
45+2' | ||
| 45+1' | |
Fabiano Parisi |
| Fikayo Tomori | |
56' |
Match statistic
