AC Milan left it till the second half to safe the three factors in opposition to Empoli on the Stadio Carlo Castellani, however they did ultimately emerge 2-0 victors on Saturday night time.
The entire motion got here in an action-packed second 45 minutes, beginning with Fikayo Tomori (two yellows) and Marianucci (a kick-out at Santiago Gimenez) receiving crimson playing cards in pretty fast succession.
Rafael Leao gave Milan the lead with a header on the far submit after Christian Pulisic’s deep cross, then Pulisic teed up Gimenez for his first purpose since arriving, a end that confirmed why he’s the €35m man.
The outcome signifies that Milan hop into seventh place whereas ready for Bologna’s outcome, with Juventus 5 factors forward in fourth having performed a sport extra. Fiorentina, in fifth, are 4 factors forward with the identical video games performed.
Regardless of studies within the build-up to the sport suggesting there could be a number of modifications to the staff that beat Roma in midweek, ultimately with Joao Felix making his full debut rather than Christian Pulisic.
Milan began the sport positively and had a half-shout for a penalty inside two minutes when Tijjani Reijnders discovered Tammy Abraham inside the world and Pezzella introduced him down, although the referee Pairetto believed there to be no incriminating contact and the VAR staff agreed with him.
VAR was once more required to get entangled a couple of minutes later when Cacace went in with a really heavy problem on Kyle Walker which may have severely damage the English defender. A yellow card was given, and after a examine it remained as that.
The primary shot on the right track got here from Yunus Musah who drifted in from the fitting and drilled a low effort that the ex-Milan man Vasquez saved simply. On the different finish, Walker did properly to dam a Grassi shot.
Felix earned his first yellow card since arriving on the membership within the nineteenth minute however he wished a penalty when he minimize between two defenders and went down contained in the field. Replays confirmed Pairetto received his name proper and the Portuguese had dived.
Milan continued to attempt to break by Empoli’s low block with fast passing and motion in and across the fringe of the field, one such occasion resulting in a shot from Joao Felix round 20 yards out which he dragged simply vast.
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Appeals continued to be directed Pairetto’s means, and Jimenez was adamant that he had been introduced down whereas probably by on purpose chasing a ball from Musah, but nothing was given regardless of the very fact he was undoubtedly having his shirt grabbed.
Colombo got here mere inches away from hurting his dad or mum membership simply after the half-hour mark when he discovered area to fireside a shot contained in the field that curled and hit the upright, someway bouncing again throughout purpose however safely.
The ultimate try of the primary half got here by way of a free-kick proper on the sting after Theo had been shoulder-charged whereas attempting to pursue a by ball. The Frenchman took the shot on after Reijnders’ lay-off however bent it vast of the close to submit.
Conceicao clearly didn’t like what he’d seen within the first half as he made a triple change, with Santiago Gimenez, Rafael Leao and Christian Pulisic approaching with Fofana, Jimenez and Abraham coming off.
The attacking strategy play was immediately extra harmful, and twice Milan discovered a gap down the left facet of the field by Felix and Leao, although twice the cut-backs had been cleared.
There was a massively controversial incident within the fifty fifth minute when Tomori acquired a second yellow card and was despatched off for a foul on Colombo. The explanation there was a lot confusion and protest was as a result of Colombo appeared offside and but the flag by no means went up, with VAR then unable to intervene.
Issues received even nastier from there, with Empoli receiving a crimson card of their very own to even the sport at 10. Marianucci took a tumble as Gimenez backed into him and the defender lashed out on the ground by kicking the Mexican, leaving the referee no alternative after a VAR overview.
Milan took the ascendancy once more after the crimson card, and within the 69th minute they took the lead by Rafael Leao. A affected person assault was labored from one fringe of the field to the opposite, then Pulisic stood up an ideal floating cross for Leao to reach late and head residence.
With slightly below quarter-hour left on the clock, Milan doubled their benefit and it was a dream second for Santiago Gimenez off the bench. All of the credit score for the set-up should once more go to Pulisic for his hold-up play on the break and his feed, with the Mexican settling the ball properly simply contained in the field, chopping in on to his left foot and unleashing a robust curling shot that had Vasquez properly overwhelmed.
Felix did miss a chance to additional add to the lead as he tried a dink much like the one he scored in opposition to Roma with albeit from tighter vary, however Vasquez was equal to it. That will be his final enter, with Filippo Terracciano taking his place.
Konate had one of the best try for the hosts within the ultimate phases with a snapshot from the sting of the world that wasn’t too far vast of the submit with Maignan rooted.