Diego Moreira shines as AC Milan hand Inter first Serie A defeat

By Halis Sunnetci

ISTANBUL (AA) - Diego Moreira scored and provided two assists as AC Milan defeated city rivals Inter Milan 3-1 on Saturday in Week 10 of the Italian Serie A, handing the league leaders their first defeat of the season.

The 22-year-old Belgian winger, who joined Milan during the summer, set up Christian Pulisic and Adrien Rabiot in the opening 10 minutes before scoring from a free kick late in the first half.

The victory ended Inter's unbeaten start to the Serie A season after the visitors entered the derby as league leaders with 25 points from nine matches.

Milan took the lead in the fourth minute when Moreira beat Carlos Augusto on the right flank before delivering a curling cross for Pulisic, who headed past goalkeeper Josep Martinez.

Moreira provided his second assist six minutes later, delivering a low corner toward the edge of the penalty area, where an unmarked Rabiot curled a first-time left-footed effort into the far corner.

The goal continued Rabiot's impressive start to the season, bringing his tally to five goals and three assists in eight appearances.

Inter responded in the 22nd minute when Manuel Akanji flicked on Hakan Calhanoglu's corner for Alessandro Bastoni, who headed home from close range to reduce the deficit to 2-1.

The visitors nearly equalized one minute later, but Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan tipped Calhanoglu's powerful long-range effort over the crossbar.

Moreira restored Milan's two-goal advantage in the 43rd minute, however, curling a free kick from around 25 yards over the Inter wall and beyond Martinez to make it 3-1.

The goal capped an exceptional first half for the Belgian, who had already contributed two assists in his first Derby della Madonnina appearance.

Inter struggled to create clear-cut chances in the second half, with Carlos Augusto sending a diving header wide from Calhanoglu's cross in the 56th minute.

Milan maintained their two-goal advantage to secure the derby victory.

AC Milan climbed to 21 points, temporarily overtaking Como to move into fourth place. Inter remained on 25 points and could fall three points behind the leaders if Lazio beat Cagliari on Sunday.

Halis Sünnetci