INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
AC Milan forward Christian Pulisic struck to set Stefano Pioli&s side on their way to a 4-1 thrashing of Torino in their opening home game
of the season in Serie A on Saturday, while Hellas Verona snatched a 2-1 victory over visitors AS Roma.Pulisic&s opener, two Olivier Giroud
penalties and a close-range lob by Theo Hernandez moved Milan provisionally top after they got off to a winning 2-0 start at Bologna on
Monday.An excellent match, the weekly work made us level up,& Pioli told DAZN
&The team has made an important journey in recent years and top-level reinforcements have arrived… A good group is forming in terms of
attitude, availability.United States international Pulisic looks set to become a new idol at the San Siro after his move from Chelsea as he
put Milan ahead in the 33rd minute by firing home from close range in front of a capacity crowd for his second goal in two games, Reuters
reported.Torino defender Perr Schuurs temporarily spoiled the mood when he leveled three minutes later with a first-time effort but that was
the visitors& only shot on target all night.Giroud restored Milan&s lead with a penalty minutes before halftime, calmly firing the ball into
the roof of the net after the hosts were awarded a penalty for handball.Hernandez chipped goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic to add the third
in first-half stoppage time following a couple of one-twos with Rafael Leao before Frenchman Giroud converted another spot kick in the
second half after Schuurs& foul on Leao.Torino, who were held to a 0-0 draw at home by newly-promoted Cagliari on Monday, lacked the ideas
to pose any danger in front of Mike Maignan&s goal as Milan kept the ball and continued pushing to increase the scoreline.Roma
disappointJose Mourinho&s Roma fell short at Verona who were quick to take the lead when midfielder Ondrej Duda scored from close range in
less than four minutes after visiting goalkeeper Rui Patricio saved a fierce long-range shot by Filippo Terracciano.Roma had a golden chance
to equalize shortly after through midfielder Lorenzo Pellegrini who controlled the ball on the edge of the box but his low shot went inches
wide, Reuters reported.Instead, Verona doubled their lead in first-half stoppage time through forward Cyril Ngonge who left the Milan
defense standing as he netted on the counter with a solo run.Algeria midfielder Houssem Aouar pulled one back for Roma after the break but
the visitors were unable to rescue a draw despite Verona finishing with 10 men following an 84th minute red card for Isak Hien for a foul on
Andrea Belotti.Verona, who secured another season in Serie A via a relegation playoff last term, are provisionally second after winning
their opening match at Empoli 1-0.We conceded an avoidable goal which intimidated us a bit … (but) these matches create mentality and a
strong identity,& new Verona manager Marco Baroni told a press conference.Roma, who were still without Mourinho as he serves a 10-day
touchline ban for criticising a referee at the end of last season, have one point after being held to a 2-2 draw by visiting Salernitana
last weekend.The post Pulisic scores again to help Milan thrash Torino, Roma slump to Verona loss first appeared on Ariana News.
