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MILAN -- Suso was again the architect of AC Milans goals as his side beat Empoli 4-1 and moved into second spot in Serie A on Saturday.Much of the talk this season has been about the coming of age of Milans young team, but it is the Rossoneris forgotten man who has been taking center stage.Suso scored both of Milans goals in a 2-2 draw against Inter Milan last Sunday, the day after his 23rd birthday, and he added two assists and a goal against Empoli.It is a far cry from last season, when the Spanish midfielder spent the second half of the league at Genoa after making just one appearance for Milan.Gianluca Lapadula is also flourishing under Milan coach Vincenzo Montella and he netted his first brace in Serie A.Lapadula, who was called up to the Italy squad this month, was playing in the third division two seasons ago. He joined Pescara in July 2015 and helped it win promotion to Serie A with 27 goals. He signed for Milan in June.I work every day to improve ... I only want to show that I can do well then its up to the coach to choose, Lapadula said.I have never set myself a target of goals. Ive always vowed to go on the pitch with a lot of determination and through that score goals. Last year was my first real season as an out-and-out striker and I beat my record of goals.Lapadula scored Milans opener in the 15th minute, volleying Susos cross into the bottom left corner after Juraj Kucka stole the ball off Empoli midfielder Assane Diousse.Empoli was back on level terms almost immediately following a rare mistake from teenage Milan goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, who came for Guido Marilungos cross but succeeded only in pushing it straight at Riccardo Saponara, who scored against his old team.It was Empolis first goal at home in 501 minutes.Milan took control just after the hour mark as Suso netted his fourth goal in three matches. Minutes later Empoli defender Andrea Costa turned into his own net after a brilliant run from Giacomo Bonaventura.Suso set up the fourth for Lapadula, who cut inside and curled into the bottom left corner.The Rossoneri moved four points behind Juventus, which visits Genoa on Sunday. Roma can move back level with Milan with a win at home to relegation-threatened Pescara.Milan forward Carlos Bacca was sidelined for the match against Empoli and took the opportunity to return to Spain to watch former team Sevilla host Valencia, fuelling speculation he will leave Italy in the January transfer window.TORINO 2 CHIEVO VERONA 1Iago Falque netted twice in three first-half minutes as Torino moved level on points with fourth-place Lazio and Atalanta, which visit Palermo and Bologna respectively on Sunday.Italy forward Andrea Belotti scored two in both of his past two matches for Torino, but this time it was his teammate who stole the headlines.Falque netted his first in the 35th minute, sprinting to the back post to head in Antonio Barrecas cross from the left. The midfielder doubled his tally with a delightful curled effort into the top left corner for his sixth goal in the last five home games.Falque was given a standing ovation when he was substituted in the 69th.Roberto Inglese headed in a corner five minutes from time, moments after a good save from Torino goalkeeper Joe Hart.But any hope Chievo had of snatching a point evaporated minutes later when Fabrizio Cacciatore -- who was still unhappy after being denied a penalty -- was shown a straight red card for dissent. Buy Cheap Old Skool . Barcelonas entertaining victory ensured the defending Spanish champions retained their share of the league lead with Atletico Madrid two rounds ahead of their meeting in the capital. Real Madrid needed a late goal by substitute Jese Rodriguez to earn a 3-2 victory at Valencia to stay in third place and three points behind its title rivals. Vans Old Skool Discount . Mitch Holmberg added a goal and three assists. Connor Chartier also scored for the Chiefs (3-0-0). Luke Harrison spoiled Garrett Hughsons shutout bid with a power-play goal at 13:17 of the third period. The Spokane goaltender finished with 28 saves, including a Brandon Fushimi penalty shot in the second period that would have tied the game 1-1. http://www.cheapoldskool.us/ . It says Pocklingtons lawyer filed the appeal Friday in a California court. CTV Edmonton also says Pocklington gave a $100,000 cash deposit as part of the conditions of his bail, and that he will be out on bail until his appeal is heard. Cheap Old Skool Wholesale . A knee to the thigh might have stung him the most, but his sixth straight double-double made up for the brief burst of pain. Vans Old Skool Clearance . Peter Holland and Brad Staubitz were sent to Toronto on Saturday as the Maple Leafs traded defenceman Jesse Blacker and draft picks to the Anaheim Ducks. NEW YORK -- Connecticut and Syracuse supplied plenty of great moments over the years at Madison Square Garden as members of the Big East. They had one more Monday night in a nonconference matchup.Christian Vital made two free throws with 2.2 seconds to play to give Connecticut of the American Athletic Conference a 52-50 victory over Syracuse of the Atlantic Coast Conference in the Tire Pro Classic.Andrew White III hit a 3-pointer with 9.1 seconds left to bring Syracuse into a 50-50 tie. Rodney Purvis missed a 3-point attempt for the Huskies but Vital was fouled on the rebound. Syracuses final chance was a long inbounds pass that was stolen by Connecticut.Vital, a 6-foot-2 freshman guard, said he knew Purvis was going to shoot so he just went to get position among bigger players underneath.I definitely had a lot of nerves going to the line but the timeout they called helped me out a lot, Vital said. A lot of our veteran guys talked to me during the timeout and they said `Listen, were in your city. Take us home. And I was able to do that.Purvis had 21 points and seven rebounds for the Huskies (4-4) while Jalen Adams had 16 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. Kentan Facey, who coach Kevin Ollie said has been battling a stomach virus, had a career-high 13 rebounds.This is definitely a huge win for us, Purvis said. We had some early season struggles but to come together tonight in this atmosphere, in this historic place. It was huge for us to come out with the win.White finished with 14 points for the Orange (5-3), who have lost three of four. Dajuan Coleman had 10 points and a career-high 16 rebounds for Syracuse.I think the three games that we just played, two and a half of them the offense just wasnt good enough to win, Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim said. Defense was pretty good tonight. We did a good job on the boards. We just could not score any points.Neither team shot well and that made a lot of rebounds available as both teams finished with 42.Connecticut finished 16 of 51 from the field (31.4 percent) while the Orange shot 25.9 percent (14 for 54). Syracuse was 6 of 26 from 3-point range and the Huskies were 7 of 25.Once again it wasnt the most beautiful basketball game from an offennsive standpoint but I thought the defense was great, Ollie said.ddddddddddddSome new growth was made today.Syracuse led 23-21 at halftime. The Orange used an 11-2 run to go up 37-26 with 13:11 to play. The Huskies finally started hitting some shots and they used a 19-7 run to take a 45-44 lead with 6:19 to play. Connecticut led the rest of the way except for the 50-50 tie.What we need to think about is our offense, Boeheim said, We have to get better there.These teams had met at Madison Square Garden many times when they both were in the Big East. The greatest of all their matchups was the 2009 Big East Tournament quarterfinal that Syracuse won 127-117 in six overtimes. Syracuse leads the all-time series 55-38.We were thirsty for this opportunity and we were hungry to hit and the guys really hit and fought tonight and I was very proud of them, Ollie said.BIG PICTURESyracuse: The Orange are out of the Top 25 this week for the first time this season. They were 22nd last week and dropped out following a loss to Wisconsin in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. ... With no ranked teams on their schedule until mid-January it will be hard for the Orange to return to the rankings until then. ... Syracuse is playing in Madison Square Garden for the 35th consecutive season. It entered this game 94-76 all-time in MSG.UConn: The Huskies are going to struggle all season to replace swingman Terry Larrier and guard Alterique Gilbert, both of whom are out for the season with injuries. Both were averaging in double figures when they were injured. ... This was UConns 115th game at Madison Square Garden. The Huskies entered this game 61-53.MEET AGAINThese schools will meet again at Madison Square Garden next December in the 2017 Jimmy V Classic. Villanova and Gonzaga will also meet in one-night event.LOT OF FANSThe crowd was listed as 15,347 and they made it sound like an old-time Syracuse-UConn matchup.UP NEXTSyracuse: The Orange host the Terriers of Boston University on Saturday.UConn: The Huskies will make their first trip to Columbus, Ohio, in 33 years to face the Buckeyes on Saturday. ' ' '