MILAN - AC Milan missed a valuable opportunity to climb to fourth position in the Serie A standings as they were held to a draw by Livorno on Wednesday.
Nico Pulzetti gave the Serie A strugglers a surprise lead early in the second-half before Andrea Pirlo fired home from the penalty spot just after the hour mark to spare the Rossoneri's blushes.
AC Milan went into the encounter at the San Siro without Brazilian strikers Alexandre Pato and Kaka and were dealt a further blow when Ronaldo left the pitch injured, minutes after coming off the bench.
Even so, they were clear favourites to continue their four-game winning streak against 15th-placed Livorno who have collected just one point in their last three games.
And the Rossoneri almost took an early lead as Pirlo drilled in a fierce shot from just outside the area in the sixth minute but Livorno keeper Marco Amelia reacted well to turn it away for a corner.
Milan kept up the pressure but the Livorno defence calmly dealt with any danger, making sure the Rossoneri never really got a shot at goal.
And when Milan did breach the back four Amelia was there to deny them.
Alberto Paloschi had a decent effort in the 16th minute but the Livorno keeper reacted well to save it at his near post.
The 19-year-old almost had another good chance to give the hosts the lead 10 minutes later as Massimo Ambrosini put a tantalising cross in towards him but the Livorno defence intercepted to clear the danger.
But it was the visitors who had the best chance to take the lead on 33 minutes as Francesco Tavano blazed a free-kick over the bar.
That was one of few chances for the visitors as the Rossoneri were relentless in their attack on the Livorno goal.
Amelia was once again the hero for his side on 38 minutes as he pulled off a stunning save to keep out Ambrosini's powerful header.
And the 25-year-old was on hand again just before half-time to punch away Pirlo's 25-yard free-kick.
Livorno came out in the second-half in confident mood after keeping Milan's strikeforce at bay for 45 minutes.
And they stunned the San Siro five minutes after the restart with a wonder goal from Pulzetti.
The midfielder, on the day of his 24th birthday, turned brilliantly on the edge of the area before firing into the corner past Milan keeper Zeljko Kalac.
Milan had a strong penalty claim turned down minutes later as Fabio Galante looked to have controlled the ball with his hand but the referee waved play on.
But he had no hesitation in pointing to the spot on 61 minutes when Ronaldo was hacked down by Jose Vidigal in the area - an incident which saw the Brazil player stretchered off the pitch with a suspected ruptured tendon in his left knee.
Pirlo stepped up the spot and fired Milan level.
The Italy midfielder could have doubled his tally minutes later but Amelia punched his fierce effort away.
Livorno should have restored their advantage on 72 minutes as Alessandro Diamanti pulled off a good turn to leave Massimo Oddo standing but blazed his effort over the bar.
The 24-year-old almost netted the winner three minutes from full time with a powerful left-footed strike which Kakha Kaladze only half-cleared but Kalac smothered the danger before Livorno could react.
