Fans in Sicily were treated to a game of two halves. They also got to see the good, bad and ugly of both sets of players.
Catania vs AC Milan, Final Score 1-3: Rossoneri record back-to-back victories
Three second half goals gave Milan a 3-1 win over Catania, but both sides finished with ten men.
A brace from Stephan El Shaarawy and a fabulous solo effort from Kevin- Prince Boateng cancelled out Nicola Legrottaglie's first half opener to give Milan back-to-back league victories for the first time this season. Meanwhile, El Shaarawy took his goals tally to 12.
Catania came into the game without a host of players. Mariano Izco, Ciro Capuano, Adrian Ricchiuti, Marco Biagianti and Fabio Sciacca all joined suspended duo Nicolas Spolli and Alejandro Gomez on the sidelines.
Milan made one change from the side that beat Juventus last weekend, with Francesco Acerbi starting in place of Mario Yepes.
The home side got off to the perfect start on 11 minutes. Riccardo Montolivo misjudged his leap to stop a Francesco Lodi corner, allowing Legrottaglie to power home a free header.
Catania had chances to double their lead in the final minutes of the first half. Pablo Barrientos picked the pocket of Kevin Constant in the area, Lucas Castro took possession and rolled the ball across the box, forcing Mattea De Sciglio to hack it away. Lodi also tested Marco Amelia with a low free-kick on the stroke of halftime.
After the break, the game was quickly turned on its head. Barrientos recklessly hacked Antonio Nocerino's ankles for his second booking and Milan quickly took advantage with two goals in three minutes.
First, El Shaarawy stretched furthest to get in front of the Catania defenders and stab Robinho’s pinpoint cross underneath the bar. There was a hint of an offside for the 20-year-old, but the linesman’s flag stayed down. Moments later, Boateng picked up El Shaarawy’s pass just outside the area and curled a beautiful shot into the bottom right hand corner, leaving Andujar rooted to the spot.
Milan camped out in Catania's half, looking for a third. Nocerino was sent clear and denied by a last-ditch Pablo Alvarez tackle, while Andujar denied El Shaarawy with his legs from point blank range.
Catania quickly made all three of their substitutions to try and freshen up the legs on the pitch. As time ticked away, the ball ricocheted around the home side's penalty area. After Andujar denied Robinho, substitute Urby Emanuelson's rebound struck the post.
The sides were evened up once more in stoppage time, when Boateng was shown a straight red for a scissor-tackle on Castro.
El Shaarawy ensured the game ended on a positive note when he curled his second across goal and into the far corner.
Catania: Andujar; Alvarez, Legrottaglie, Rolin, Marchese; Salifu, (Paglialunga 72) Castro, Lodi, Almiron, (Bellusci 72) Barrientos; Bergessio (Doukara 77)
Milan: Amelia; De Sciglio, Mexes, Acerbi, Constant; De Jong, Montolivo, (Emanuelson 66) Nocerino; Boateng; Robinho, (Ambrosini 90) El Shaarawy
Goals: Legrottaglie 11 (C) El Shaarawy 53, 90 (M) Boateng 56 (M)
Sent-off: Barrientos 49 (C) Boateng 90 (M)
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