Played
August 4, 2012 4:30 PM EDT
August 4, 2012 4:30 PM EDT
Olimpia 1-3 AC Milan: Nocerino blitzes Hondurans in first half
Riccardo Montolivo made his debut for Milan in a 3-1 win over Olimpia that featured two Nocerino goals.
By Justin Churchill
Getty Images
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. –- Serie A giant AC Milan topped Honduran squad Olimpia 3-1 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. in the second game of the Italian team's U.S. preseason tour.
Milan was led by the strong play of midfielder Antonio Nocerino, who had a hand in all three goals.
Olimpia, perhaps struggling for fitness following a CONCACAF Champions League match midweek, surrendered three goals in the first half.
In the 10th minute, Robinho struck a ball outside the 18 that was saved agilely by Honduran international 'keeper Noel Valladares. Fifteen minutes later, Robinho scored a curling shot after a pass from Nocerino.
Nocerino added two goals to Milan's tally at the end of the second half, putting the game far out of reach of Olimpia.
The second half saw little action on the scoring, as substitutions and adjusted shape affected both teams. Olimpia saw some consolation late in the second half on a goal from Jose Escalante in the 72nd minute.
"Olimpia is a strong team, a team that can do some good things. In the second half they were strong," Nocerino said. "The important thing for us is to train well and, so, we had a good chance to do that."
Next up for Milan on its U.S. tour is a match against Real Madrid at Yankee Stadium in New York. That Madrid side features four players on the Spain national team which won Euro 2012.
Riccardo Montolivo, who lined up for Italy in the final match of that competition, played in his first game for Milan following a transfer from Fiorentina.
"It was a good first game with new team. It is always difficult to start training with a new team especially with the heat the way it was today," Montolivo said. "But nevertheless it was still a good fresh start, so now we have another game coming up on Wednesday and we have to be ready for the beginning of the new season."
Milan is expected a much sterner test against Los Blancos.
"Obviously Real Madrid is one of the best teams in the world, so it is going it is going to be a lot harder then today," Montolivo said.
Follow JUSTIN CHURCHILL on
Milan was led by the strong play of midfielder Antonio Nocerino, who had a hand in all three goals.
Olimpia, perhaps struggling for fitness following a CONCACAF Champions League match midweek, surrendered three goals in the first half.
In the 10th minute, Robinho struck a ball outside the 18 that was saved agilely by Honduran international 'keeper Noel Valladares. Fifteen minutes later, Robinho scored a curling shot after a pass from Nocerino.
Nocerino added two goals to Milan's tally at the end of the second half, putting the game far out of reach of Olimpia.
The second half saw little action on the scoring, as substitutions and adjusted shape affected both teams. Olimpia saw some consolation late in the second half on a goal from Jose Escalante in the 72nd minute.
"Olimpia is a strong team, a team that can do some good things. In the second half they were strong," Nocerino said. "The important thing for us is to train well and, so, we had a good chance to do that."
Next up for Milan on its U.S. tour is a match against Real Madrid at Yankee Stadium in New York. That Madrid side features four players on the Spain national team which won Euro 2012.
Riccardo Montolivo, who lined up for Italy in the final match of that competition, played in his first game for Milan following a transfer from Fiorentina.
"It was a good first game with new team. It is always difficult to start training with a new team especially with the heat the way it was today," Montolivo said. "But nevertheless it was still a good fresh start, so now we have another game coming up on Wednesday and we have to be ready for the beginning of the new season."
Milan is expected a much sterner test against Los Blancos.
"Obviously Real Madrid is one of the best teams in the world, so it is going it is going to be a lot harder then today," Montolivo said.
Follow JUSTIN CHURCHILL on
Goal
Own Goal
Penalty
Penalty Missed
Yellow Card
Assist
Penalty Save
Penalty Shootout Goal
Penalty Shootout Miss
Yellow Card / Red Card
Red Card
Substitution IN
Substitution OUT
Injury
Goal.com Rating
Goal.com Man of the Match
Goal.com Flop of the Match
Top & Flop Global Ranking
Fans' Man of the Match
Fans' Flop of the Match
Results
Live
Final
scheduled
Suspended
Cancelled
Postponed
