Stephan El Shaarawy’s seventh goal of the season saved AC Milan from a costly defeat at Palermo as the Rossoneri came from two goals down to take a point 2-2.
Fabrizio Miccoli capped a strong first half for the home team with a penalty to put them in front while Franco Brienza made it two almost immediately in the second half.
Riccardo Montolivo brought Milan back into the game in the 69th minute before El Shaarawy struck ten minutes from time to complete the comeback and save Milan from falling below the Sicilians in the league table.
Miccoli was Palermo’s dangerman, trying to make amends for his missed chances in the draw with Siena at the weekend, for which he assumed full responsibility.
He had the first chance of the game in the 16th minute, failing to beat Marco Amelia at his near post, and then again ten minutes later when he pounced on a poor pass from Kevin Constant but shot just inches over Amelia’s goal. His 34th-minute free-kick was only just inches wide of the right-hand post with Amelia helpless to reach it.
Alexandre Pato provided a rare moment of danger at the other end when his header was saved by Samir Ujkani low down at his post before Miccoli was given a better chance to score from the penalty spot after his cross hit the arm of Ignazio Abate.
Miccoli stepped up and picked his spot low to the left, beyond Amelia’s reach, even though the Milan goalkeeper went the right way in first-half stoppage time.
Brienza made it two early in the second half with a 25-yard effort which caught Amelia by surprise, but the Sicilians then decided to stop playing. They resorted to defending for the remainder of the game and Milan soon took advantage.
Bojan Krkic’s shot was beaten away by Ujkani at his near post in the 58th minute and Abate’s low ball needed just a touch from El Shaarawy, but he failed to provide it from a yard out.
Montolivo brought Milan back into the game moments later when his deflected shot left Ujkani no chance inside his near post.
Milan continued to attack and were rewarded in the 80th minute when Ujkani’s punch fell to El Shaarawy, who managed to find the smallest of gaps with his instant shot inside the near post of the Palermo goal.
