Perth, Australia – As the sun set on AC Milan`s extensive pre-season tour of Asia and Australia, the Rossoneri delivered a performance that was less a competitive football match and more a clinical demonstration of superior firepower. Against a valiant but ultimately outmatched Perth Glory, Milan secured a resounding 9-0 victory, concluding their overseas fixtures with a clear statement of intent, albeit one delivered with a knowing wink.
A Rossoneri Deluge
The gulf in class was evident from the opening whistle. Coach Allegri, opting for a fluid formation that shifted between a 3-5-2 and a 4-3-3, saw his side take the lead within three minutes. Filippo Terracciano opened the scoring after a swift exchange with Okafor, a clear indication of the dominance to follow. Perth Glory, to their credit, attempted to create chances, but Milan’s defensive solidity held firm.
The Rossoneri`s response to any local foray was swift and decisive. Noah Okafor bagged an impressive brace; his second a tap-in following a powerful shot from Ruben Loftus-Cheek. Youngster Alex Jimenez impressed particularly, providing a dazzling assist for Okafor`s first, skipping past three defenders with remarkable composure before laying the ball off. The first-half rout continued as 17-year-old Francesco Comotto confidently converted a penalty, followed by Samuel Chukwueze, who, after several attempts, finally etched his name onto the scoresheet just past the half-hour mark. Five goals before the break, and the local side appeared, quite understandably, to be melting under the relentless pressure.
The Second-Half Onslaught
The second half saw a completely revamped Milan lineup, yet the narrative remained unchanged. Rafael Leao, deployed as a central striker, wasted no time, scoring within a mere 15 seconds of the restart, leveraging his trademark speed to make it 6-0. The match continued as a thoroughly one-sided affair, with Perth Glory heroically defending against the inevitable tide.
The goals kept coming. Simone Ricci then added a stunning long-range effort, assisted by a clever backheel from Liberali and a precise pass from Alexis Saelemaekers, further cementing Milan`s dominance. Yunus Musah contributed an individual masterpiece for the eighth goal, navigating through defenders before slotting home with aplomb. Leao then grabbed his second of the game, completing a glorious nine-goal performance for the Italian giants.
Reflections and What`s Next
While a 9-0 victory against a team of Perth Glory`s standing might not be the truest measure of a top-tier European side`s readiness, it certainly provided positive feedback for Coach Allegri. The defense, despite facing minimal threat, maintained a clean sheet, and the attacking cohesion, with goals from various players and impressive individual moments, indicated a promising offensive phase. It`s a reminder, however, not to get *too* carried away; the disparity in quality was simply too vast for an accurate calibration of Milan’s true strength at this stage.
The squad is now en route back to Milan, where they will briefly break before resuming training on Wednesday, August 5th. The real tests await: demanding pre-season friendlies against Leeds United on September 9th in Dublin and Chelsea on September 10th at Stamford Bridge. These fixtures will undoubtedly offer a far more accurate barometer of AC Milan`s pre-season progress and their ambitions for the upcoming domestic and European campaigns, commencing with their Coppa Italia debut on September 17th.
