Empoli 2-2 AC Milan: Torres on target but Rossoneri fail to win again

Date: 23rd September 2014 at 10:50pm
Written by:

Empoli and AC Milan played out an entertaining 2-2 draw at the Stadio Carlo Castellani on an ultimately frustrating night for both teams.

The home side raced into a 2-0 advantage through Lorenzo Tonelli and Manuel Pucciarelli before the visitors fought back thanks to a Fernando Torres header and a Keisuke Honda strike.

In the opening moments, Pucciarelli forced a smart save from Milan stopper Christian Abbiati after a snap shot before denying Matias Vecino after the midfielder’s run was not tracked. Empoli played with tempo and intelligence to expose Milan’s lack of organisation at the back, as they looked particularly vulnerable from set-pieces.

Empoli also squandered a great opportunity for a third just after the 30 minute mark, with a deep cross from Vincent Laurini finding an unmarked Verdi but he could only flick his header onto the top of the net. At that moment, Inzaghi looked on knowing that his side were lucky to be only two down after another pass left Julio Zapata and Daniele Bonera struggling.

But the home side were left to regret their missed chances when Torres, making his first start for Milan, placed a glancing header brilliantly into the far corner from an Ignazio Abate cross to give the away side a well-timed lifeline just prior to half-time. Empoli then had the opportunity to strike back immediately but Vecino could only fire over the bar from just outside the box.

Empoli were then furious to be denied a penalty after the ball struck Bonera clearly on the arm. The referee, however, had no interest and waved play on.

The home team started the second-half on the front foot and should have scored a third after Fransesco Tavano broke through the defence with ease only to drag his shot horribly wide and look to the skies in disbelief.

It did not take long to find out whether or not they would ruse that miss as Keisuke Honda then scored a wonderful equaliser within minutes to compound Empoli’s misery, using some neat skill to evade a tackle before burying the ball in bottom corner.

Milan came close to completing the comeback when Torres advanced into the box, using dazzling trickery to elude the defence before teeing up Jeremy Menez on the edge of the box but the Frenchman saw his drive smash the crossbar and miss out on what would have been a fantastic goal. Milan’s equaliser shifted the momentum in their favour and they began to dominate.

The action continued as Honda sprinted into the box and whistled a dangerous cross to the far post which proved just too heavy for the Rossoneri shirts queuing up at the back post.

Mirko Valdifiori then followed his coach in being dismissed after a dangerous tackle on Nigel De Jong, only a minute after receiving his first yellow card. A stunning incident that left Empoli to fight the remaining five minutes with ten men.

Milan were unable to capitalise on their numerical advantage though and it was a point for both teams in the end on a night when Inzaghi and Sarri will feel their teams had plenty of chances to win. Milan were comfortably outplayed in the first half and looked terribly exposed at times and they will need to improve after disappointing against Juventus as well.

Empoli played with great confidence and endeavour in the first period but squandered several opportunities and will feel like they should have claimed a great scalp over the Rossoneri.

 

Comments are closed.