MILAN: AC Milan’s stuttering start to the season continued when the former European champions were foiled by heroic goalkeeping from Empoli’s Pietro Terracciano as they were held 1-1 by the promoted side on Thursday for a third successive Serie A stalemate.

Milan led for an hour following Leonardo Capezzi’s own goal but Francesco Caputo levelled from the penalty spot in the 71st minute.

The result will pile the pressure on coach Gennaro Gattuso whose side have just six points from five games and are already 12 points off the pace of champions Juventus.

“Mistakes can happen and at the moment we’re paying a dear price for them,” Gattuso said. “I’m more disappointed at not closing out the match earlier, it’s becoming a problem.

“When you don’t win but you’re playing well, you start becoming nervous, you can’t hide that. The lads are giving their all ... plus their goalkeeper [Terracciano] made at least five miraculous saves.”

It was the second match in a row that Milan had drawn after going ahead, following Atalanta’s stoppage-time equaliser on Sunday.

Milan got off to the ideal start when Diego Laxalt’s cross wasn’t cleared and the ball fell to Lucas Biglia, whose powerful effort was deflected into the top corner by Capezzi in the 10th minute.

It was an end-to-end match and Caputo’s volley crashed off the post seconds before Terracciano made an impressive double stop, denying first Giacomo Bonaventura and then getting back up to palm away Franck Kessie’s effort from the rebound.

Milan — who were without star striker Gonzalo Higuain through injury — then gifted Empoli the equaliser when Biglia gave away a penalty after Milan captain Alessio Romagnoli had sent an attempted clearance straight to an opponent.

The 31-year-old Caputo had never taken a penalty in Serie A but stepped up and struck it powerfully down the middle.

Terracciano then capped his outstanding evening with a superb save to fingertip Spanish midfielder Suso’s effort around the post, leaving Milan a modest 13th in the table, having dropped seven points from a winning position — more than any other team.

SURPRISE HIGHFLYERS

Earlier, Sassuolo won the battle of the surprise outfits in Serie A as they triumphed 2-0 at SPAL to move into third place.

Both teams have had excellent starts to the campaign and SPAL had won their previous four home matches.

Defender Claud Adjapong scored from a rebound just before the hour before Alessandro Matri added a last-minute second just 60 seconds after coming on as a substitute with a shot which went in off the post for his 91st strike in Serie A.

The 34-year-old Matri came on for his first appearance of the season and also had time to hit the post.

“We have got what we deserved from these six games and we are enjoying the moment,” said Sassuolo coach Roberto De Zerbi.

Sassuolo have 13 points from six games and could go second with victory at home to Milan on Sunday. They are two points behind Napoli and five adrift of Juve. The top two meet in Turin on Saturday.

Published in Dawn, September 29th, 2018