Sassuolo 1-2 AC Milan: Rafael Leao scores after just SIX SECONDS to help his

On Dec 20, 2020

Rafael Leao scores after just SIX SECONDS to help AC Milan go top of Serie A with a win over Sassuolo… netting the fastest goal EVER recorded in Europe’s top five leagues

AC Milan striker Rafael Leao opened the scoring just six seconds into the match
Midfielder Alexis Saelemakers doubled the lead for Stefano Pioli’s side
Domenico Berardi pulled one back with a consolation goal right at the death

By Brian Homewood, Reuters and Max Mathews For Mailonline

Published: 10:59 EST, 20 December 2020 | Updated: 12:55 EST, 20 December 2020

AC Milan forward Rafael Leao scored the fastest goal in Serie A history, hitting the target after six seconds, to set the Serie A leaders on their way to a 2-1 win at Sassuolo on Sunday.

In an astonishing start, Hakan Calhanoglu collected the ball straight from the kickoff and opened up the Sassuolo defence with an incisive pass to Leao and the Portuguese beat goalkeeper Andrea Consigli with an angled drive.

Calhanoglu could have made it two after nine minutes, but had a goal disallowed for offside in the build-up in the ninth minute of the match.

Rafael Leao (left) scored after six seconds for AC Milan – a record in Europe’s top five leagues

MATCH FACTS

SASSUOLO: Consigli; Toljan (Muldur 61), Marlon, Ferrari, Rogerio (Kyriakopoulos 46); Bourabia, Lopez; Berardi, Traore (Obiang 86), Duricic (Boga 57); Defrel (Caputo 46)

Subs not used: Magnanelli, Ayhan, Peluso, Raspadori, Chiriches, Haraslin, Pegolo

Goalscorers: Berardi 89

Booked: Berardi

AC MILAN: Donnarumma; Calabria, Kalulu, Romagnoli, Hernandez; Tonali (Krunic 45), Kessie; Saelemakers (Castillejo 79), Diaz (Hauge 57), Calhanoglu (Maldini 87); Leao

Subs not used: Tatarusanu, Dalot, Conti, Musacchio, Colombo, Duarte, Donnarumma, Roback

Goalscorers: Leao 1, Saelemakers 26

Booked: Calabria, Romagnoli, Kessie

But Belgian midfielder Alexis Saelemaekers added a second following a powerful Gareth Bale-esque run from Theo Hernandez in the 26th minute.

Domenico Berardi pulled one back with one minute left with a fine free-kick but Stefano Pioli’s side held on to top spot in Serie A, one point above intra-city rivals Inter Milan, who beat Spezia.

Roberto De Zerbi’s Sassuolo side have now not beaten AC Milan since March 2016, and have lost seven and drawn two of their last nine against the Rossoneri.

Visitors Milan, again missing injured forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic, remained unbeaten after 13 games and lead the standings with 31 points.

The move which led to AC Milan forward Leao scoring after six seconds against Sassuolo, the fastest goal in Serie A history, was practised in training, coach Stefano Pioli said after his side’s 2-1 win.

‘We have four or five possible situations for the kick-off which we alternate,’ he said.

‘We wanted to approach the game the right way from the start. We did very well to score after just six seconds and (Brahim) Diaz, (Hakan) Calhanoglu and Leao made the right movements.’

Midfielder Alexis Saelemakers doubled…