FESTY EBOSELE MADE debut for Udinese in today’s 4-2 defeat to AC Milan as the new Serie A season got underway.
The Enniscorthy youngster arrived off the bench as an 83rd minute substitute in the San Siro, becoming the fourth Irishman to play in the Italian league. Former St Pat’s defender James Abankwah was an unused sub for Udinese.
Champions Milan bounced back from going behind with less than two minutes on the clock to claim the three points thanks to two goals from Ante Rebic, a Theo Hernando penalty and a strike from Brahim Diaz.
The margin of defeat was harsh on Udinese who acquitted themselves well in front of a raucous home crowd at the San Siro.
However three points and four goals were the perfect way for Milan to kick-off what is likely to be a tight title tussle in Italy, with no clear favourite ahead of the start of the campaign.
“We can do better, there were a lot of positives but and other things on which we can improve but that normal for this period of the season,” said manager Stefano Pioli to DAZN.
Fans at a packed San Siro roared “we are the champions” as the team came out on a balmy summer’s evening in Milan.
Dumfries stole the headlines on Romelu Lukaku’s return to Serie A with a 94th-minute strike just as Inter looked to have dropped points at newly-promoted Lecce.
Lukaku nodded home from close range with just 81 seconds gone to give Inter the lead at the Stadio Via del Mare, an ominous sign for Lecce as he had netted against the southern side on his Italian top flight debut in 2019, a 4-0 thumping for Inter at the San Siro.
However Marco Baroni’s side, pushed on by passionate home support, refused to be cowed by their more illustrious opponents and drew level less than two minutes after half-time through Assan Ceesay, who slipped in a precision finish after being neatly put through by Federico Di Francesco.
Dumfries headed off the post and Lukaku was denied by flying goalkeeper Wladimiro Falcone just before the Netherlands wingback bundled in the winner which was harsh on the spirited hosts.
Silvio Berlusconi’s Monza were given a reality check in their first ever Serie A match, beaten at home 2-1 by Torino.
Aleksei Miranchuk opened the scoring two minutes from the break on his Torino debut, expertly finishing off Antonio Sanabria’s through ball following a quick passing move.
Sanabria doubled the away side’s lead with an acrobatic scissor kick midway through the second half, much to the disappointment of Berlusconi who was in the stands at the Stadio Brianteo.
Atalanta won Saturday’s other early match, 2-0 at Sampdoria through goals from Rafael Toloi and Ademola Lookman.
Meanwhile in Serie B, Ireland U21 winger Liam Kerrigan did not feature for Como in their 1-1 draw with Cagliari.
