PRIMAVERA SLIP UP AT EMPOLI DESPITE SIA GOAL | OneFootball

After four wins on the spin in the league and Youth League, Ignazio Abate's Primavera side came undone at the Stadio Comunale in Petroio, losing to Empoli 2-1. It was a dominant first-half showing, in which the young Rossoneri came close several times to open the scoring, due to having a constant threat out wide. But a slow start after the break saw the hosts find two quick, killer goals that gave them the win. Diego Sia's finish gave AC Milan some courage and hope for a late comeback, but the final push didn't bring the point they deserved on matchday 24 in Primavera 1.

Coch Abate's lads kept knocking on the door until the final whistle, despite capitan Andrei Coubis and Chaka Traorè both having to go off for injury problems on the half-hour mark and at half-time, respectively. But it has been a positive month of March for the Rossoneri, who go into the international break still on 27 points. They now have the chance to recharge the batteries and prepare for the final stage of the season with lots still to play for. On their return, they will face Udinese at PUMA House of Football.

CHECK OUT THE GALLERY FROM EMPOLI  v AC MILAN

MATCH REPORT The first alarm bells rang for the away side, with Seck's header just going wide after 6'. AC Milan responded with a double chance for Zeroli: Kevin met Bozzolan's cross perfectly, but his header didn't find the corner; soon after, Štubljar blocked his shot from close range. The Rossoneri were dominating possession, and after 22' came close to opening the scoring through El Hilali's accurate, side-footed shot that wasn't far off going into the top-corner, after replying to Degli Innocenti's long-range effort. The tempo of the game dropped for the rest of the half until the final few minutes: after 39 minutes, Cuenca let one fly from distance, before Traorè failed to hit the target following up from Štubljar's block, while Nava reacted sharply to Seck's header (43'). At half-time, it remained goalless.

Empoli took the lead straight after the restart: Seck took advantage of a scramble in the box and fired in low at the near post, with his left, past Nava after 47'. The Rossoneri were in shock, and five minutes later conceded again through Renzi's right-footed strike from the edge of the area. Two goals down, AC Milan changed formation and attitude, getting back into the game on 66 minutes, after good work from two subs: Alesi's cross being guided home by Sia. The away side regained confidence and camped themselves in their opponents' half, but Empoli held firm and defended with everything they had. Four minutes before the end of normal time, Štubljar pushed out El Hilali's powerfully struck right-footed shot, before Longhi had a goal disallowed for offside. The Rossoneri pushed right until the end but to no avail: it ended 2-1.

MATCH DETAILS

EMPOLI 2-1 AC MILAN

EMPOLI (4-3-3): Štubljar; Boli, Guarino, Indragoli, Angori; Kaczmarski (63' Zenelaj), Degli Innocenti (76' Ignacchiti), Renzi; Seck (76' Marianucci), Magazzú (63' Barsi), Alessio (63' Nabian). Subs: Fantoni, Seghetti; Dragóner, Stassin; Obeng, Vallarelli; Fini, Tropea. Coach: Buscè.

AC MILAN (4-3-3): Nava; Bakoune, Coubis (36' Nsiala), Simić (57' Bartesaghi), Bozzolan (80' Longhi); Stalmach, Victor, Zeroli (57' Sia); Cuenca, El Hilali, Traorè (46' Alesi). Subs: Bartoccioni, Pseftis; Casali, Paloschi; Foglio, Gala, Malaspina; Mangiameli. Coach: Abate.

Referee: Scarpa. Goals: 47' Seck (E), 52' Renzi (E), 66' Sia (M). Booked: 49' Magazzú (E), 88' Barsi (E), 89' Štubljar (E), 90' Nsiala (M), 92' Bartesaghi (M).

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