Another good win in our second, and final friendly of this abbreviated preseason. Bring on the season!
The match started at a good tempo, and we took the lead inside of five minutes. Jamie Gittens was cynically tripped to win a free kick, which Reece James flighted perfectly into the middle, where the goalkeeper hesitated and as a result, the ball bounced in off young defender Andrei Coubis.
There may have been an element of luck about that goal; no luck was needed for the second: a perfectly flighted cross from Pedro Neto was met beautifully by João Pedro, who had split the defenders with an excellent run.
The two goalscorers then came together for another big moment, as Coubis hauled down JP on a breakaway to earn himself a red card — in a friendly! — to complete his miserable afternoon that barely lasted 20 minutes. The match thus ended as a true contest, which perhaps wasn’t ideal for our preparations but minutes are minutes at the end of the day.
We’d have to wait for the third goal — Cole Palmer hit the post, came close on two other occasions, while Gittens wasted a couple breakaway chances as well — but it would duly arrive halfway through the second half, with Liam Delap converting from the spot after Estêvão was taken out at the far post trying to turn in Delap’s low cross.
Milan would get a consolation not long after, having exposed a few cracks in our midfield and defense prior to then as well without reward. So that’s not ideal, and something to work on.
But, overall, a nice day out in the London sunshine, with Delap adding a fourth, his second, after a lovely little flick from Andrey Santos in the final minute.
- Pretty much a first-choice starting XI: Sánchez | Cucurella, Chalobah, Tosin, James (c) | Enzo, Caicedo | Gittens, Palmer, Neto | João Pedro
- Chalobah looked to have twisted his ankle; was in great discomfort initially but would eventually hobble off under his own power; hopefully nothing too serious!
- Minutes for most everyone, including young Reggie Walsh
- Next up: the season opener against Crystal Palace next Sunday
- KTBFFH
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