Mario Balotelli scored a brace, including a stunning free-kick seven minutes from time, to help secure a share of the points for Milan in a hard-fought 2-2 away draw to Livorno on Saturday. Balotelli had opened the scoring in the eighth minute with a cheeky but fortuitous flick at the back post following Kaka's inviting ball across the face of goal.
Milan's defence had been guilty of leaving space at the back all too often and when Paulinho collected a weighted through-ball from midfield the striker outpaced Cristian Zapata with ease to beat Gabriel at his near post in the 58th minute. Livorno's hopes of holding on for their first win against Milan since January 2005 were kept in check when a Balotelli free-kick from 25 metres left 'keeper Francesco Bardi with no chance in the Livorno net with seven minutes to play. Balotelli had ended a two-month goal drought in the league only last week and almost had his third two minutes from time but the striker saw a stunning, looping drive smack off the crossbar with Bardi beaten.
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