ROARING DOWIE: THE ROSSONERE ARE BACK
Women
Ten for the number ten: it was a goal from Natasha Dowie - her tenth league goal - which made the difference between AC Milan and Empoli. The Rossonere are back on the right tracks after two defeats and have consolidated their position as second in the league, getting closer still to their objective of the Champions League. The final result of 1-0 for Ganz's girls, stars of a difficult challenge with lots of goalscoring chances created over the course of the 90 minutes, against a dangerous and well organised side.
It was a great goal from the English attacker that got them the deserved result, with a good performance from the defenders as well, who were alert and well co-ordinated, just as they have been in previous good performances this season. Hasegawa-Vero-Jane's performance in centre-midfield is also worthy of note. With that match behind them, they are now focussed on next weekend's big fixture: on Sunday 28 March at 12:30 CET, the Rossonere will face off against Inter for another round of the Derby.
CHECK OUT THE GALLERY FROM AC MILAN-EMPOLI
MATCH REPORT
After the Coppa Italia Derby, Ganz has reverted to the usual 3-5-2 with Vero now back. It is none other than the Spanish centre midfielder who is the newest star, with a brilliant shot that ricocheted off both posts and was whiskers away from putting AC Milan ahead. The Rossonere kept on grinding and created so many chances, especially for the inspired Dowie, who almost scored a header in the 14th minute as well as a chip from the edge of the box in the 27th minute. The Tuscans replied several times with Dompig, but their last big chance of the first half came from their captain, Giacinti: a chip from the edge of the area in the 38th minute which beat the keeper but just about missed the target.
The second half opened with a great chance for Rizza, whose low shot in the 47th minute was cleared off the goal line by the Empoli defence. The Rossoneri took a well-deserved lead shortly after the hour mark: Vero set Dowie through on goal in the 62nd minute who, with great coolness, flicked it with her right past the approaching goalkeeper who could do nothing about it, making it 1-0. The guests responded in the 70th minute with Prugna's effort off the crossbar, but overall, it was AC Milan that created more scoring chances, in particular with Giacinti: the Rossoneri captain was beaten twice by the onrushing Cappelletti in the 75th and 79th minutes. The newly entered Grimshaw tried her luck with a right footed shot from distance, but the last action came from Empoli, with a Glionna free kick from the edge of the box in the 92nd minute: the ball went just off target, meaning AC Milan come out as winners.
SUMMARY
AC MILAN 1-0 EMPOLI
AC MILAN (3-5-2): Korenčiová; Fusetti, Agard, Vitale; Bergamaschi, Hasegawa, Vero (86' Grimshaw), Jane (72' Mauri), Rizza (49' Kuliš); Giacinti, Dowie (86' Tucceri Cimini). Subs.: Piazza; Rask, Morleo, Tamborini, Coda. Coach: Ganz.
EMPOLI (4-4-2): Cappelletti; Di Guglielmo, Knol, Giatras, Acuti (88' Iannazzo); Morreale (64' Miotto), Cinotti (84' Caiola), Bellucci, Prugna; Glionna, Dompig. Subs.: Fedele; Brscic, De Rita, Toniolo, Nicolini, Fabiano. Coach: Spugna.
Referee: Perri from Roma 1.
Goal: 62' Dowie (M)
Booked: 39' Bellucci (E), 90' Agard (M)
Match KIT, clothing, accessories, gift ideas and much more: visit AC Milan Online Store!
