El Shaarawy double sparks Milan fightback

ROME (AFP) –

Stephan El Shaarawy (R) scored twice as AC Milan recovered from a goal down to defeat Catania 3-1 and climb up to seventh place in Serie A in a game where both sides finished with 10 men.

Stephan El Shaarawy scored twice as AC Milan recovered from a goal down to defeat Catania 3-1 on Friday and climb up to seventh place in Serie A in a game where both sides finished with 10 men.

Fresh from their 1-0 win over league leaders Juventus last weekend, Milan continued their recovery from a disastrous start to the campaign which saw them suffer five defeats in their first eight games.

But they did it the hard way in Sicily on Friday after slipping behind to an 11th-minute header from Nicola Legrottaglie.

Their fortunes turned when Catania had Pablo Barrientos sent off for a second bookable offence in the 49th minute.

Four minutes later, El Shaarawy levelled despite a hint of offside in the build-up involving Robinho.

Kevin-Prince Boateng made it 2-1 to Milan in the 56th minute with a fine drive although the Ghana international was red-carded in injury time for a dangerous tackle.

However, El Shaarawy settled Milan’s nerves by adding his second of the night and 12th in the league this season in the second minute of time added-on.