THE PRIMAVERA BEAT EMPOLI ON THEIR RETURN TO ACTION
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After a month and a half without playing as a result of the winter break and the pandemic, AC Milan Primavera came away with a victory on their return to league action. At Vismara, in their first match of 2022, the Rossoneri beat reigning champions Empoli 3-1 thanks to a Nasti brace and a goal from Roback. It wasn’t all plain sailing, with Pseftis saving a penalty at 0-0 and the team being forced to dig in together. Then, after being pegged back midway through the second half, Coach Giunti’s men struck in clinical fashion. In addition to the goalscorers and the Greek goalkeeper, Capone’s assists and the impact made by Omoregbe were particularly notable.
The Diavolo have now recorded four consecutive wins in the Primavera 1 division and sit on 20 points after 14 matchdays, three ahead today’s opponents. The table remains very tight, with the Rossoneri in touching distance of the playoff zone. Despite a prolonged layoff, the team are doing well and looking confident. This afternoon’s result was the best possible way to resume the season ahead of the upcoming Derby, which is scheduled for 15:00 CET on Tuesday 1 February at Vismara.
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REPORT
It had been a while since the teams had taken to the pitch, and this probably accounted for the slow start to the game. In the opening exchanges, a shot from Evangelisti that finished over the bar was the only attempt of note. Then, on the half-hour mark, Empoli were awarded a penalty for a foul by Eletu on Magazzù in the area. Pseftis saved Degli Innocenti’s spot-kick, with the same Azzurri player then somehow sending the rebound over when it seemed easier to score. The Tuscan side didn’t seem to be unduly affected by the incident as they tried to take the game to AC Milan, but it was the Rossoneri who broke the deadlock in the 41st minute. After Alesi had recovered possession and played a ball forward for Capone, the latter set up Nasti for an easy tap-in to make it 1-0.
At the start of the second half, Capone tried to replicate the first goal as he sent in a cross in the direction of Alesi, who, however, wasn’t quite able to get on the end of it. The next effort came from El Hilali, who shot off target. At the other end, Bosisio saved Pseftis’s blushes with an important intervention (55’), but the visitors then scored an equaliser eight minutes later (63’) as Lozza headed home Rizza’s ball in. Following a shot from Magazzù, the Rossoneri responded in excellent fashion. With 69 minutes on the clock, Capone (who suffered an ankle injury in the process) once again found Nasti to score his and AC Milan’s second; then, Roback made it three following great work by Omoregbe. The Rossoneri had done what they needed to do and saw the match out comfortably. Full-time.
MATCH DETAILS
AC MILAN 3-1 EMPOLI
AC MILAN (4-3-3): Pseftis; Coubis, Bosisio, Stanga, Bozzolan; Di Gesù, Eletu (64' Gala), Alesi (57' Robotti); El Hilali (57' Omoregbe), Nasti (72' Roback), Capone (71' Traorè). Subs: Bartoccioni, Nava; Nsiala, Piantedosi; Björklund, Camara; L. Rossi. Coach: Giunti.
EMPOLI (4-3-1-2): Biagini; Evangelisti, Pezzola, Filì (46' Indragoli), Rizza (88' Fini); Ignacchiti (80' Heimisson), Degli Innocenti, Fazzini; A. Rossi (67' Renzi); Lozza (88' Logrieco), Magazzù. Subs: Fantoni, Fontanelli; Dragóner, Mauro, Morelli; Bonassi, Disegni. Coach: Buscè.
Referee: Rutella from Enna.
Goals: 41' and 69' Nasti (M), 63' Lozza (E), 72' Roback (M).
Bookings: 18' A. Rossi (E), 70' Nasti (M), 77' Gala (M), 80' Coubis (M).
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