Empoli vs. AC Milan: Final score 2-2, Milan rescue point from newly-promoted Tuscans
AC Milan came from two goals down to rescue a point against Serie A minnows Empoli.
It took just 13 minutes for the hosts to capitalise on Milan's pedestrian start and take the lead, as Lorenzo Tonelli escaped the half-hearted marking of Daniele Bonera to glance a Mirko Valdifiori corner in off Christian Abbiati's far post.
The early goal set the tone for a spell of Empoli dominance, with Manuel Pucciarelli beating Bonera to a near-post cross and forcing a superb save from Abbiati soon after. Five minutes later Matías Vecino volleyed a Francesco Tavano cross goalwards, though Milan’s veteran shot-stopper got down to make yet another save.
However, he was powerless to prevent Empoli deservedly doubling their advantage in the 21st minute, when Pucciarelli slotted home a smart Tavano free-kick flick. Milan looked shellshocked, and Empoli looked superb.
Alas, the Tuscans couldn’t maintain their high-energy pressing right through to the halftime whistle, and the pace of the game dropped as the clock ticked on. It was a lull Milan managed to take advantage of, as they clawed a goal back on an excellent Fernando Torres just a couple of minutes before the break.
It would have been easy to imagine Empoli retreating deep and playing the second half as defensively as possible, but in actual fact, the hosts came out firing on all cylinders. They created a string of half-chances before Tavano slipped the offside trap and went one-on-one with Abbiati, only to skew his shot badly wide.
As is so often the case, the hosts were swiftly punished for their profligacy. In the space of a couple of minutes Milan had drawn level, with a precise Keisuke Honda shot buried in the bottom corner of Luigi Sepe's net. It was very almost the first goal in a quickfire double, though Jérémy Ménez rattled the crossbar minutes later.
Milan subsequently threatened to dominate the game; the momentum having swung fully in their favour for the first time. However, save for a curling free-kick from Honda that flashed past the post, Empoli regrouped and hung on for a valuable, well-deserved point, despite the sending off of playmaker Valdifiori with four minutes of normal time remaining.
Empoli: Sepe; Rui, Rugani, Tonelli, Laurini (Hysaj 70’); Croce, Valdifiori, Vecino; Verdi; Pucciarelli (Zieliński 76’), Tavano (Maccarone 64’).
Goals: Tonelli (13’), Pucciarelli (21’).
Red cards: Valdifiori (86’).
AC Milan: Abbiati; De Sciglio, Bonera, Zapata, Abate; van Ginkel (Bonaventura 31’), De Jong, Muntari (Poli 46’); Ménez, Torres (Pazzini 81’), Honda.
Goals: Torres (43’), Honda (57’).
