Milan draws 3-3 with Salernitana in Giroud, Pioli farewell

AC Milan ended its Serie A campaign with a disappointing 3-3 home draw against relegated Salernitana on Saturday in what was the last game at the club for coach Stefano Pioli and striker Olivier Giroud.

Published : May 26, 2024 08:20 IST , MILAN - 2 MINS READ

AC Milan coach Stefano Pioli with players after his final match with AC Milan.
AC Milan coach Stefano Pioli with players after his final match with AC Milan. | Photo Credit: REUTERS
infoIcon

AC Milan coach Stefano Pioli with players after his final match with AC Milan. | Photo Credit: REUTERS

AC Milan ended its Serie A campaign with a disappointing 3-3 home draw against relegated Salernitana on Saturday in what was the last game at the club for coach Stefano Pioli and striker Olivier Giroud.

Rafael Leao and Giroud put Milan 2-0 up at the break, but Salernitana pulled a goal back through forward Simeon Nwankwo in the second half before Davide Calabria restored the hosts’ two-goal lead with a header.

Yet Salernitana’s Junior Sambia and Nwankwo levelled with two quick-fire goals in the dying moments.

The Milan fans said goodbye to manager Pioli, who is leaving the club after five years following a disappointing season.

READ | Inter’s Martinez named Serie A player of the season

He led the Rossoneri to their first league title in over a decade in 2022 but the team has struggled to challenge since and finished second this season on 75 points, 18 points behind Inter Milan who visit Hellas Verona for its final game on Sunday.

The seven-time European champions bowed out of the Champions League in the group stage earlier this season before getting knocked out of the Europa League by AS Roma in the quarterfinals.

Pioli is the Milan manager with the fourth-most wins (108) in Serie A, behind Carlo Ancelotti (163), Nereo Rocco (120) and Fabio Capello (110).

The hosts made a promising start when Rafael Leao gave them the lead with a simple finish from close range in the 22nd minute after capitalising on an error by Salernitana goalkeeper Vincenzo Fiorillo.

The Portuguese ran to embrace Pioli after scoring and other players joined the 24-year-old around the departing coach.

Giroud doubled the advantage five minutes later, volleying home from an Alessandro Florenzi corner.

The Frenchman, who will join Major League Soccer (MLS) side Los Angeles FC after three years at Milan, scored his 49th goal for the Serie A side before he was substituted in the 84th minute to a standing ovation from a packed San Siro.

Theo Hernandez thought he made it 3-0 from a Leao pass before the break but his effort was ruled out for offside after a VAR check.

However, the hosts’ tempo dropped after halftime and they ended up dropping points again, finishing the season with one win in their last seven league games.

Salernitana return to Serie B after three seasons in the top flight. It finished the campaign bottom of the table after suffering 25 defeats in the 38 games.

Sign in to unlock all user benefits
  • Get notified on top games and events
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign up / manage to our newsletters with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early bird access to discounts & offers to our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide to our community guidelines for posting your comment