Empoli 0-3 AC Milan - Ruben Loftus-Cheek scores wonderful team goal as Milan keep pace with title rivals

Olivier Giroud scored his 10th goal of the season from the penalty spot as AC Milan comfortably beat Empoli 3-0 in Tuscany.

After a scrappy start, The Rossoneri eventually found their rhythm and took the lead when Rafael Leao's brilliant run and pass found Ruben Loftus-Cheek whose first-time effort inside the box found the bottom corner.

Stefano Pioli's side made it two from the penalty spot after a VAR check spotted Youssef Maleh's handball. Giroud stepped up and fired his spot kick in off the underside of the bar.

Both sides were forced to make injury substitutions before the break with Filippo Ranocchia replacing Tyronne Ebuehi for the hosts and Alessandro Florenzi being replaced by Alejandro Jimenez.

Empoli had some decent opportunities to score in the second half with Matteo Cancellieri's effort parried and Francesco Caputo's follow-up effort blocked.

But Milan made it three late on when substitute Chaka Traore was put through on goal by Christian Pulisic and side-footed it past the 'keeper.

The result sees The Rossoneri stay in third place and reduce Inter Milan's lead at the top of Serie A to nine points, while Empoli remain in the relegation zone.

Stefano Pioli was without Marco Sportiello, Malick Thiaw, Fikayo Tomori, Pierre Kalulu, Tommaso Pobega and Noah Okafo for this game. And he lost Alessandro Florenzi early on to a suspected hamstring injury. Despite this, the quality of their midfield led them to a comfortable victory over Empoli and they are now unbeaten in their last seven games.

The Portuguese forward was a constant threat with his turn of pace and unselfish link-up play, playing as an old-fashioned winger. He assisted Loftus-Cheek's goal and was at the centre of Milan's attacking threat throughout.

EMPOLI: Caprile 5, Ebuehi n/a, Walukiewicz 5, Luperto 5, Ismajili 6; Baldanzi 6, Grassi 6, Maleh 5; Gyasi 5, Cambiaghi 7, Caputo 6. Subs: Rannochia 6, Maldini n/a, Marin n/a.

AC MILAN: Maignan 7, Calabria 7, Kjaer 6, Theo 7, Florenzi n/a; Loftus-Cheek 8, Adli 6, Reijnders 6; Pulisic 5, Giroud 7, Leao 9. Subs: Jimenez 5, Musah n/a, Bartesaghi n/a, Gabbia n/a, Traore n/a.

11' - GOAL FOR MILAN! Leao lays it off to Loftus-Cheek in the box and his first time side-footed finish nestles in the bottom corner.

30' - PENALTY TO MILAN! Maleh is penalised for handball. Giroud takes it and scores, it comes off the underside of the bar and its in the net.

88' - GOAL FOR MILAN! Chaka Traore is put through on goal after a good run by Pulisic and sidefoots it past the keeper.

AC Milan have at least two English players, Fikayo Tomori and Ruben Loftus-Cheek, with at least two goals scored in a single Serie A season for the first time since 1985/86 (Mark Hateley and Ray Wilkins).

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