Olympiacos gunned down in San Siro
UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE - MATCHDAY 2
| AC Milan | 3 - 1 | Olympiacos |
|---|---|---|
| Cutrone 70',79' Higuain 76' |
Guerrero 14' |
Olympiacos are still waiting for the first win of their Europa League group stage campaign after slumping to a 3-1 defeat to Italian giants AC Milan at the San Siro.
Miguel Angel Guerrero’s header had put the Pireaus club in front at half-time against their Group F rivals, but three second half goals in nine minutes from Patrick Cutrone - who bagged a brace - and Gonzalo Higuain - turned the game on its head.
Pedro Martin’s Thrylos side more than held their own against their illustrious Serie A opponents for 45 minutes, but faded badly in the second half.
Olympiacos, who lost 1-0 at home to PAOK in last Sunday’s big SuperLeague derby clash, went into this crucial match looking for a positive result to follow their opening goalless draw against Real Betis.
Milan, who beat Dudelange 1-0 in their opening match, aren’t the force they once were, but the Rossoneri still boast a huge reputation and following, and their fans were stunned into silence after the visitors took the lead in the 14th minute with their first attack.
Yaya Touré started the move, swinging a ball over to Leonardo Koutris on the left. The left-back’s cross was precise and and Guerrero got in front of the Milan defenders to head it in via a deflection.
After 22 minutes Yaya Touré rolled back the years with a barnstorming run down the middle before dropping the ball off. It was quickly spirited to Guilherme on the edge of the box and the Brazilian's low shot sailed just wide.
Milan responded with a long spell of pressure and the hosts were unlucky not to score in teh 35th minute when Gonzalo Higuain’s shot was saved brilliantly by Jose Sa in the Olympiacos goal.
Olympiacos held Milan at Bay for long spells in the second half, but their resistance was broken after 70 minutes when Cutrone beat Sa to level the match.
The home side had the scent of blood in their nostrils and Higuain, who had been relatively quiet up to that point, turned the Olympiacos defence inside out before firing low past Sa three minutes later.
Cutrone then added some gloss on the scoreline with 11 minutes left to compound a miserable night for Olympiacos that had promised something much better.
HIGHLIGHTS: AC MILAN - OLYMPIACOS
