El Shaarawy double lifts AC Milan to 3-0 defeat of Torino

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Stephan El Shaarawy scored twice as AC Milan recaptured some of their fading flair with a 3-0 victory over Torino at San Siro -- but a top-half finish remains the best prize on offer.

Injuries and a chronic run of bad form have pushed El Shaarawy onto the margins of the first team during another disappointing season, so his first goal in almost seven months represented an encouraging tonic.

Giampaolo Pazzini's penalty and another clinical finish from El Shaarawy propelled Milan beyond ninth-placed Torino, who despite several poor recent results sit two points ahead of their hosts in the Serie A table.

The dismissals of Cristian Zaccardo and Cristian Molinaro meant each side finished the game with 10 men and there was even space for Milan academy captain Alessandro Mastalli to make his debut from the bench.

Milan made a sluggish start and soon allowed Bruno Peres to gallop forward, but his ball inside to Omar El Kaddouri was pushed out for a corner.

When Amauri tested Christian Abbiati's reflexes, Torino were starting to look good for an opener.

One minute later, however, it was Milan who scored first, as El Shaarawy ended a long goal drought.

Zaccardo did the hard work by getting into a dangerous position to unleash a cross that El Shaarawy slammed past the stranded Daniele Padelli.

It was the prodigious Italy international's first goal since November and only his second since February 2013.

Milan fancied doubling their lead before the break but they would instead surrender a chunk of their advantage as Zaccardo earned a red card to leave them a man light.

Molinaro was running clear through on Abbiati's goal when Zaccardo opted to bring him down, yet El Kaddouri could only smash the resulting free-kick against the wall.

Milan returned to the pitch looking more focused following half-time but head coach Filippo Inzaghi did not re-emerge having been sent to the stands for arguing with the officials.

There was no debating the penalty award that allowed the Rossoneri to double their lead in the 57th minute.

Left-back Molinaro headed down the tunnel after denying Marco van Ginkel a clear goalscoring opportunity and Pazzini gladly stepped up to convert the spot-kick.

Torino's heads dropped and Milan took advantage, with El Shaarawy grabbing his second goal five minutes after the hour.

With the visiting defence in disarray Pazzini set up his junior team-mate for an easy finish beyond Padelli.

Confident his senior selection had done enough, Inzaghi ordered the insertion of 19-year-old midfielder Mastalli.

The Primavera skipper would not be content with a token first-team bow and almost scored a fourth goal for Milan - only Emiliano Moretti's brave block kept the teenager at bay.