AC Milan gets timely boost with Fonseca's first win ahead of crucial week

MILAN (AP) — New AC Milan coach Paulo Fonseca got his first Serie A win in style. It couldn’t have come at a better time for the Rossoneri.

A devastating opening half an hour set Milan on its way to a convincing 4-0 win over promoted Venezia on Saturday for its first victory of the season after two draws and a loss.

The result and the manner of the victory are a timely confidence boost ahead of a crucial week. Fonseca's team hosts Liverpool in the Champions League on Tuesday followed by a Serie A derby match against defending champion Inter Milan.

Also, Bologna remained winless but came from two goals down to salvage a 2-2 draw against Como.

Juventus drew at Empoli 0-0.

Rafael Leao and Theo Hernandez were benched for Milan’s last match but were back in the starting lineup and the pair combined to score the opener after just 90 seconds.

Hernandez won the ball in midfield and played it to Leao who gave it back to him with a delicious backheeled flick on the half turn. That sent the France international down the left and he squeezed his shot past Jesse Joronen at the near post.

Milan doubled its lead in the 16th minute when Youssouf Fofana headed in a Christian Pulisic corner, and the United States international got on the scoresheet himself in the 25th by converting a penalty after Tammy Abraham was tripped by Joronen.

The Rossoneri were awarded another penalty less than three minutes later after the video assistant referee spotted Venezia defender Joël Schingtienn trodding on Leao’s foot.

This time Abraham stepped up to net his first goal for Milan since joining from Roma last month.

It was the first time Milan scored four times in the first half hour of a Serie A match since 1958.

Francesco Zampano thought he pulled one back for Venezia but it was ruled out and Venezia midfielder Hans Nicolussi Caviglia was shown a second yellow card for a foul on Ruben Loftus-Cheek and sent off.

Bologna’s preparations for its Champions League debut are not going well though it managed to spoil Como’s first Serie A home match in 21 years.

Bologna, which hosts Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday, has just three points from its opening four matches. Its only other appearance in Europe’s top competition was in 1964 in the preliminary round of the old European Cup.

Como made a great start in the fifth minute when Patrick Cutrone attempted to roll the ball across the six-yard box but it took a huge deflection off Bologna defender Nicolò Casale for an own goal.

Bologna improved after the break but found itself further behind when Cutrone raced onto a through ball and cut inside past a defender and fired into the far bottom corner.

Tommaso Pobega hit the post for Bologna, which finally pulled one back in the 76th through substitute Santiago Castro.

Another substitute helped the visitors snatch a point when Samuel Iling-Junior curled a fine strike into the top left corner in stoppage time.

Juventus, and more surprisingly Empoli, are among six unbeaten sides.

Empoli held Monza and Bologna to draws either side of a shock 2-1 win at Roma. Juventus' perfect start to the season was ruined by Roma in a goalless draw before the international break.

On Saturday, there were few clearcut chances in Empoli although home goalkeeper Devis Vásquez made spectacular saves to fingertip out a Federico Gatti header and deny Dusan Vlahovic in a one on one with the Juventus forward.

Empoli had a good opportunity in the 73rd minute following an Alberto Grassi one-two with Pietro Pellegri but the finish was straight at Mattia Perin.

The host could have won it right at the death but Gatti flew in with a great sliding block to keep out Emanuel Gyasi's close-range effort.

Juventus hosts PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League on Tuesday.

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AC Milan's Tammy Abraham, center, celebrates after he scored during the Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Venezia at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

AC Milan's Matteo Gabbia, left, celebrates with teammate Christian Pulisic after scoring in a Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Venezia at the San Siro Stadium in Milan, Italy, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. (Spada/LaPresse via AP)

AC Milan's Theo Hernandez, left, celebrates after he scored with Rafael Leaoduring the Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Venezia at the San Siro stadium, in Milan, Italy, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

AC Milan's head coach Paulo Fonseca gives instructions during the Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Venezia at the San Siro stadium, in Milan, Italy, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

AC Milan's Christian Pulisic celebrates after scoring in a Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Venezia at the San Siro Stadium in Milan, Italy, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. (Spada/LaPresse via AP)

Juventus Kenan Yildiz, right, fights for the ball with Empoli's Saba Goglichidze, during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Empoli and Juventus at the Carlo Castellani Stadium in Empoli, Italy, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. (Marco Bucco/LaPresse via AP)

Juventus' Andrea Cambiaso, right, jumps past Empoli's Liam Henderson during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Empoli and Juventus at the Carlo Castellani Stadium in Empoli, Italy, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. (Marco Bucco/LaPresse via AP)

Juventus Dusan Vlahovic, top, is tackled by Empoli's Ardian Ismajli during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Empoli and Juventus at the Carlo Castellani Stadium in Empoli, Italy, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. (Marco Bucco/LaPresse via AP)

Como 1907's Patrick Cutrone celebrates after Bologna's Nicolo Casale scored an own goal, during the Serie A soccer match between Como and Bologna at the Giuseppe Sinigaglia stadium in Como, Italy, Saturday Sept. 14, 2024. (Antonio Saia/LaPresse via AP)

Como's Patrick Cutrone reacts during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Como and Bologna at the Giuseppe Sinigaglia stadium in Como, Italy, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. (Antonio Saia/LaPresse via AP)

Como's head coach Cesc Fabregas gives instructions during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Como and Bologna at the Giuseppe Sinigaglia stadium in Como, Italy, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. (Antonio Saia/LaPresse via AP)

CAIRO (AP) — The Grand Egyptian Museum will open 12 halls with exhibits about ancient Egypt in its main galleries starting this week in a trial run ahead of the still-unannounced official opening, officials said Tuesday

The museum, a mega-project near the famed Giza Pyramids which has cost well over $1 billion so far, will open the halls for 4,000 visitors per day starting Wednesday, said Al-Tayeb Abbas, assistant to the minister of antiquities.

The museum has been under construction for more than a decade, and an overall opening date has not yet been set, having been repeatedly delayed for various reasons, including the COVID-19 pandemic. Some sections have been open since 2022 for limited tours.

More than 100,000 artifacts of Egypt’s ancient treasures will be displayed in the world’s largest archaeological museum, according to the Egyptian state information website.

Abbas told the AP that the trial run starting Wednesday would help prepare for the full opening by identifying operational issues, including which parts of the museum might become overcrowded.

The displays across the 12 halls tap into issues related to society, religion, and doctrine in ancient Egypt, he added. The open-style halls have been classified by dynasty and historical order, and will showcase thousands of artifacts.

Eras that will be exhibited in the main galleries include the Third Intermediate Period (about 1070-664 B.C.), Late Period (664-332 B.C.), Graeco-Roman Period (332 B.C.-395 A.D.), New Kingdom (1550-1070 B.C.), Middle Kingdom (2030-1650 B.C.), and Old Kingdom (2649-2130 B.C.). One of the halls displays statues of “Elite of the King,” members of the royal family and high-ranking officials who worked in the army, priesthood, and the government.

Limited tours have been allowed in parts of the site since late 2022 to test visitors’ experience and the museum’s operational preparedness.

Aude Porcedde, a Canadian tourist who visited several sections, told the AP she was amazed by the museum, adding that Egyptian civilization is important for her and for the world to know more about.

“There is a lot of history and a lot of things we are not aware of, especially coming from the other side of the world, and seeing everything here and learning from the locals has been great,” said Costa Rican tourist Jorge Licano.

The grand staircase, six stories high and with a view of the pyramids, and the commercial area are open to the public, showcasing monuments and artifacts that include sarcophagi and statues. Other parts of the museum, including the King Tutankhamun treasure collection, are set to open at later dates.

All halls are equipped with advanced technology and feature multimedia presentations to explain the lives of the ancient Egyptians, including its kings, according to Eissa Zidan, director-general of preliminary restoration and antiquities transfer at the museum.

One of the halls will use virtual reality to explain the history of burial and its development throughout ancient Egypt.

“The museum is not only a place to display antiquities, but it also aims to attract children to learn about ancient Egyptian history ... The museum is a gift to all the world,” Zidan told the AP.

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Associated Press journalist Fatma Khaled contributed to this report from Cairo.

King Ramses II statue is displayed at the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza, Egypt, Tuesday, Oct.15, 2024. (AP Photo/Khaled Elfiqi)