Milan held to dour draw at Livorno

Adjust font size:

ROME, Italy -- AC Milan lost their 100 percent winning start to the Serie A season when they drew 0-0 at Livorno on Saturday.

Milan had earned a maximum nine points against Lazio, Parma and Ascoli to overturn the eight-point penalty handed to them for their part in a match-fixing scandal but could not continue their run at Livorno's Picchi Stadium.

The draw left Milan with two points from four games, seven behind leaders Palermo, who travel to Empoli on Sunday.

"We've got to accept it philosophically," said Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti.

"We played a great match in the first half but in the second we didn't play as a team, and we were nearly punished for it."

Milan went close several times to taking a first-half lead. Playmaker Kaka grazed the post with a shot from just outside the area and Filippo Inzaghi put a close-range volley over the bar.

Cristiano Lucarelli wasted the home side's only chance before the break when he ran into the area only to lash a wild shot high into the stands.

Having ridden their luck in the first half, however, Livorno looked more composed when they reemerged after the interval.

Midfielder Stefano Morrone nearly put them ahead on the hour when a poor clearance by Alessandro Nesta gave him a chance which he blasted against the bar from 10 meters out.

Milan's last opportunity to claim all three points was snatched away five minutes from time when Livorno keeper Marco Amelia plucked the ball from the feet of on-rushing striker Ricardo Oliveira.

In Saturday's other Serie A match, Sicilian rivals Catania and Messina played out a lively 2-2 draw.

Messina led at halftime against Catania thanks to a goal by striker Sergio Floccari after 32 minutes but Giuseppe Mascara equalised just before the hour mark.

Their celebrations were cut short, however, when the celbrating Mascara removed his shirt and promptly earned a second yellow card.

Despite being down to 10 men, Catania grabbed another goal through Gionatha Spinesi three minutes later.

Midfielder Nicolas Cordova levelled the scores in the 64th but Messina's one-man advantage then ended when defender Mark Iuliano picked up a second booking.

Get up-to-the minute news from CNN CNN.com gives you the latest stories and video from the around the world, with in-depth coverage of U.S. news, politics, entertainment, health, crime, tech and more.

---

• Ousted Honduran leader: Jet denied
• Federer claims Wimbledon crown
• Disney monorail crash kills driver
• Facebook reveals new UK spy chief
• McNair's death ruled homicide

• Irish PM to quit over payments scandal
• NATO chief: Afghan troop increase likely
• Militants hunted as calm retuns to Basra
• Pressure on Bush to skip Olympics
• BA sending misplaced T5 baggage to Milan

• Recruiting suicide bombers (2:50)
• London was lucky (2:36)
• Cars in London rigged as bombs (3:48)
• Second explosives-packed car foun (2:32)
• Soviet culture returns (3:47)