AC Milan's Ante Rebic scores his goal during a Serie A football match between AC Milan and Udinese in Milan, Italy, on Aug. 13, 2022. (Photo by Alberto Lingria/Xinhua)
ROME, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- The 2022-23 Serie A season kicked off on Saturday with the Milanese clubs starting on the right foot, as defending champion AC Milan conquered Udinese 4-2, while Inter Milan won Lecce 2-1 away thanks to Denzel Dumfries's last-gasp winner.
The Rossoneri who claimed the title last season after 11 years entered Saturday's game without injured Sandro Tonali and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, while all the summer signings including Divock Origi and Charles De Ketelaere started the game from the bench.
The home side was stunned seconds into the game as Rodrigo Becao scored the first goal of the season with a header in a corner.
AC Milan responded quickly as it turned the game around in a span of four minutes, with Theo Hernandez's penalty and Ante Rebic's strike.
Udinese pulled the game on level terms on the stroke of half-time when Adam Masina turned in a diving header.
However, the Diavolo restored the lead again at the dawn of second-half, when Udinese's poor clearance allowed Brahim Diaz to drill in from a close range, before Rebic bagged a brace to seal the win.
De Ketelaere and Origi also made Serie A debuts in front of San Siro crowd for the final 20 minutes.
Elsewhere, Inter Milan also registered the opening win but in a relative thrilling way.
Romelu Lukaku who returned to Inter Milan on a loan deal after a frustrated season with Chelsea marked his comeback with a header in the opening minutes, while Lecce equalized straight after the break from Assan Ceesay's angled drive.
The Nerazzurri started to besiege Lecce's goal, but Dumfries saw his header smack the upright, while Lukaku's goal was flagged offside before the Belgian blasted over from a point-blank range.
In a desperate bid for a win, Inter threw caution to the wind, as it sent Edin Dzeko and Joaquin Correa to form a four-forward line. The audacious tactic paid off in the dying minute when Lautaro Martinez nodded a corner for Dumfries to prod the ball into the net at the back post.
Elsewhere, the newly-promoted Monza ran by Silvio Berlusconi who spent big money in the transfer window was dealt a blow in its debut as it suffered a 2-1 home defeat to Torino, while Atalanta sailed away with a 2-0 victory over Sampdoria. ■
AC Milan's Ante Rebic celebrates his second goal during a Serie A football match between AC Milan and Udinese in Milan, Italy, on Aug. 13, 2022. (Photo by Alberto Lingria/Xinhua)
AC Milan's Ante Rebic (Front L) celebrates his first goal with teammates during a Serie A football match between AC Milan and Udinese in Milan, Italy, on Aug. 13, 2022. (Photo by Alberto Lingria/Xinhua)
AC Milan's Brahim Diaz (L) vies with Udinese's Walace during a Serie A football match between AC Milan and Udinese in Milan, Italy, on Aug. 13, 2022. (Photo by Alberto Lingria/Xinhua)
AC Milan's Theo Hernandez (Front) scores the penalty kick during a Serie A football match between AC Milan and Udinese in Milan, Italy, on Aug. 13, 2022. (Photo by Alberto Lingria/Xinhua)
AC Milan's Ante Rebic (R) scores his goal during a Serie A football match between AC Milan and Udinese in Milan, Italy, on Aug. 13, 2022. (Photo by Alberto Lingria/Xinhua)
AC Milan's Brahim Diaz (Front) celebrates his goal with teammates during a Serie A football match between AC Milan and Udinese in Milan, Italy, on Aug. 13, 2022. (Photo by Alberto Lingria/Xinhua)
AC Milan's Brahim Diaz (R) celebrates his goal with teammates during a Serie A football match between AC Milan and Udinese in Milan, Italy, on Aug. 13, 2022. (Photo by Alberto Lingria/Xinhua)
