A giant banner is displayed during the Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Roma, at the San Siro Stadium in Milan, Sunday, June 28
AC Milan paid solemn tribute to victims of the coronavirus pandemic during a 2-0 win over Roma on Sunday.
It was Milan’s first home match since the lockdown and the team put up a huge banner along one side of the empty San Siro stadium that read “Together Forever,” dedicated to victims.
The Lombardy region of which Milan is the capital was the hardest hit area in Italy with more than 16,000 deaths.
Under the banner, 13 Milan shirts with victims’ names on them were placed over the seats.
In action from the game, both sides appeared to struggle with the heat until Ante Rebić finally found the target for Milan in the 76th. Hakan Çalhanoğlu scored from a penalty in the 89th.
The game was labeled an “American derby” between clubs with U.S. ownership.
It was Milan’s second straight win of the restart after getting eliminated by Juventus in the Italian Cup semifinals. The Rossoneri moved back into seventh place, level on points with sixth-place Napoli, which was hosting Spal later.
Roma remained fifth, six points behind Atalanta — which was visiting Udinese later — and the Champions League places.
Filling in for the injured Zlatan Ibrahimović , Rebić scored from close range following a series of rebounds, including one of his own efforts off the post.
The penalty was awarded when Chris Smalling tripped Theo Hernández.
Roma's Edin Džeko and Çalhanoğlu each wasted early chances.
The temperature was 32C (90F) at kickoff and cooling breaks were held.
The game was labeled an “American derby” between clubs with U.S. ownership.
