MILAN — Olivier Giroud took his goal tally into double figures for the 14th season in a row as he helped AC Milan to a 3-0 win at relegation-threatened Empoli in Serie A on Sunday for the Rossoneri’s first away win in three months.
Giroud doubled Milan’s lead from the penalty spot in the first half following Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s opener. Teenager Chaka Traorè sealed the win late on after a powerful run from United States international Christian Pulisic.
Third-placed Milan moved four points behind Juventus and nine below league leader Inter Milan. The Nerazzurri beat Hellas Verona 2-1 on Saturday, while Juventus was playing at Salernitana later Sunday — the same team it beat 6-1 in the Italian Cup three days ago.
Roma was also playing later, against Atalanta.
Empoli remained second-to-last in Serie A, two points from safety.
Both Milan and Napoli had length injury lists and their problems grew worse as each lost a player in the first half with home defender Tyronne Ebuehi and Rossoneri counterpart Alessandro Florenzi both going off with apparent muscular issues.
Milan started brightly and took the lead in the 11th minute as Rafael Leão burst down the left and rolled the ball across for an unmarked Loftus-Cheek to slot into the bottom right corner.
AC Milan’s Olivier Giroud celebrates scoring his side’s second goal from the penalty spot during the Serie A soccer match between Empoli and AC Milan at the Renato Castellani stadium in Empoli, Italy, Sunday Jan. 7, 2024 Credit: AP/Marco Bucco
The Rossoneri were dominating and had the chance to double their lead in the 31st minute after Empoli midfielder Youssef Maleh handled Loftus-Cheek’s hopeful overhead kick.
Giroud had missed his last spotkick — against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League in November — but made no mistake this time, albeit with a somewhat risky penalty that went in off the underside of the crossbar.
It was the veteran Frenchman’s 10th goal for Milan in all competitions this…
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