Reijnders shines through the fog at San Siro as Milan beats Empoli
Reijnders shines through the fog at San Siro as Milan beats Empoli
AC Milan’s Tijjani Reijnders celebrates scoring his side’s third goal during the Italian Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Empoli, at the Milan San Siro stadium, Italy, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
AC Milan’s Tijjani Reijnders celebrates with Alvaro Morata, top left, and Youssouf Fofana after scoring his side’s third goal during the Italian Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Empoli, at the Milan San Siro stadium, Italy, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
AC Milan’s Tijjani Reijnders celebrates scoring his side’s second goal during the Italian Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Empoli, at the Milan San Siro stadium, Italy, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
AC Milan’s Alvaro Morata, left, celebrates with his teammate Youssouf Fofana after scoring his side’s opening goal during the Italian Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Empoli, at the Milan San Siro stadium, Italy, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
AC Milan’s Alvaro Morata scores his side’s opening goal during the Italian Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Empoli, at the Milan San Siro stadium, Italy, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
A thick fog shrouds the pitch during the Italian Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Empoli, at the Milan San Siro stadium, Italy, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
AC Milan’s head coach Paulo Fonseca gives instructions during the Italian Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Empoli, at the Milan San Siro stadium, Italy, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Como 1907’s Yannik Engelhardt celebrates scoring during the Serie A soccer match between Como and Monza at the Giuseppe Sinigaglia stadium in Como, Italy, Saturday Nov. 30, 2024. (Antonio Saia/LaPresse via AP)
AC Monza’s Gianluca Caprari celebrates scoring during the Serie A soccer match between Como and Monza at the Giuseppe Sinigaglia stadium in Como, Italy, Saturday Nov. 30, 2024. (Antonio Saia/LaPresse via AP)
Bologna’s Dan Ndoye celebrates after scoring the 1-0 goal for his team during the Serie A soccer match between Bologna and Venezia at Renato Dall’Ara Stadium in Bologna, Italy, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (Massimo Paolone/LaPresse via AP)
AC Milan’s Tijjani Reijnders celebrates scoring his side’s third goal during the Italian Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Empoli, at the Milan San Siro stadium, Italy, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
AC Milan’s Tijjani Reijnders celebrates scoring his side’s third goal during the Italian Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Empoli, at the Milan San Siro stadium, Italy, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
AC Milan’s Tijjani Reijnders celebrates with Alvaro Morata, top left, and Youssouf Fofana after scoring his side’s third goal during the Italian Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Empoli, at the Milan San Siro stadium, Italy, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
AC Milan’s Tijjani Reijnders celebrates with Alvaro Morata, top left, and Youssouf Fofana after scoring his side’s third goal during the Italian Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Empoli, at the Milan San Siro stadium, Italy, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
AC Milan’s Tijjani Reijnders celebrates scoring his side’s second goal during the Italian Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Empoli, at the Milan San Siro stadium, Italy, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
AC Milan’s Tijjani Reijnders celebrates scoring his side’s second goal during the Italian Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Empoli, at the Milan San Siro stadium, Italy, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
AC Milan’s Alvaro Morata, left, celebrates with his teammate Youssouf Fofana after scoring his side’s opening goal during the Italian Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Empoli, at the Milan San Siro stadium, Italy, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
AC Milan’s Alvaro Morata, left, celebrates with his teammate Youssouf Fofana after scoring his side’s opening goal during the Italian Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Empoli, at the Milan San Siro stadium, Italy, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
AC Milan’s Alvaro Morata scores his side’s opening goal during the Italian Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Empoli, at the Milan San Siro stadium, Italy, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
AC Milan’s Alvaro Morata scores his side’s opening goal during the Italian Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Empoli, at the Milan San Siro stadium, Italy, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
A thick fog shrouds the pitch during the Italian Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Empoli, at the Milan San Siro stadium, Italy, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
A thick fog shrouds the pitch during the Italian Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Empoli, at the Milan San Siro stadium, Italy, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
AC Milan’s head coach Paulo Fonseca gives instructions during the Italian Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Empoli, at the Milan San Siro stadium, Italy, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
AC Milan’s head coach Paulo Fonseca gives instructions during the Italian Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Empoli, at the Milan San Siro stadium, Italy, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Como 1907’s Yannik Engelhardt celebrates scoring during the Serie A soccer match between Como and Monza at the Giuseppe Sinigaglia stadium in Como, Italy, Saturday Nov. 30, 2024. (Antonio Saia/LaPresse via AP)
Como 1907’s Yannik Engelhardt celebrates scoring during the Serie A soccer match between Como and Monza at the Giuseppe Sinigaglia stadium in Como, Italy, Saturday Nov. 30, 2024. (Antonio Saia/LaPresse via AP)
AC Monza’s Gianluca Caprari celebrates scoring during the Serie A soccer match between Como and Monza at the Giuseppe Sinigaglia stadium in Como, Italy, Saturday Nov. 30, 2024. (Antonio Saia/LaPresse via AP)
AC Monza’s Gianluca Caprari celebrates scoring during the Serie A soccer match between Como and Monza at the Giuseppe Sinigaglia stadium in Como, Italy, Saturday Nov. 30, 2024. (Antonio Saia/LaPresse via AP)
Bologna’s Dan Ndoye celebrates after scoring the 1-0 goal for his team during the Serie A soccer match between Bologna and Venezia at Renato Dall’Ara Stadium in Bologna, Italy, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (Massimo Paolone/LaPresse via AP)
Bologna’s Dan Ndoye celebrates after scoring the 1-0 goal for his team during the Serie A soccer match between Bologna and Venezia at Renato Dall’Ara Stadium in Bologna, Italy, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (Massimo Paolone/LaPresse via AP)
MILAN (AP) — Tijjani Reijnders scored twice and helped AC Milan get back to winning ways in Serie A by 3-0 against visiting Empoli on Saturday.
The Netherlands midfielder netted either side of halftime at a foggy San Siro after Álvaro Morata opened the scoring.
Milan remained seventh, six points behind Atalanta, Inter Milan, Fiorentina and Lazio — who are all locked on 28 points — and seven below league leader Napoli.
Empoli was 10th but only five points above the relegation zone.
In its last home match, Milan was heavily jeered by its fans after drawing with Juventus 0-0.
The Rossoneri took the lead in the 19th minute. Rafael Leão’s shot was blocked by Empoli defender Ardian Ismajli but ricocheted into the path of Morata on the left of the area and he volleyed into the bottom near corner.
Milan doubled its tally on the stroke of halftime when a cross was flicked on by Christian Pulisic and fell to Reijnders, who smashed it into the bottom left corner on the half volley.
Empoli started the second half the stronger and almost pulled one back but Youssef Maleh’s effort cannoned off the crossbar.
Reijnders’ second effectively sealed the result in the 69th. He latched onto a Youssouf Fofana through ball in midfield, raced forward, and fired past Empoli goalkeeper Devis Vásquez, who was on loan from Milan.
Relegation battle
Como and Monza remain mired in the relegation zone after their hard-fought derby finished 1-1.
Como inched level on points with 17th-placed Genoa, with Monza a point further back.
Yannik Engelhardt headed Como in front in the 36th and Gianluca Caprari levelled from the spot early in the second half after Nico Paz was penalised for handball.
Venezia stayed bottom after a fourth straight defeat, this time 3-0 at Bologna. Dan Ndoye scored twice for Bologna, including a penalty, and Riccardo Orsolini also converted a spot kick.
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