Bournemouth beat a 10-man AC Milan 3-0 at the Vitality Stadium on Thursday night (early Friday in Singapore), making it three wins from three in the Europa League league phase. Milan’s own match report on Thursday recorded penalties from Justin Kluivert and Marcus Tavernier and a late free kick from Amine Adli, with goalkeeper Mike Maignan sent off before the half hour.
A penalty inside ten minutes
The match was played in steady rain, and Bournemouth were ahead early. The ball struck Koni De Winter’s arm in the box, and the referee, Greece’s Anastasios Fotias, pointed to the spot. Kluivert sent it home after eight minutes.
Marco Rose’s side set up in a 4-2-3-1, with Tyler Adams and Ryan Christie in front of the back four and Evanilson leading the line.
Maignan’s red card changes the night
The game turned for good on 27 minutes. At a Bournemouth corner Maignan shoved Adams to the ground and was shown a straight red card. Adams had already been booked two minutes earlier.
Ruben Amorim had to take off Hutchinson to send on reserve goalkeeper Lorenzo Torriani, and the substitute’s first job was to face a second penalty. Tavernier converted it on 32 minutes for 2-0.
Adli’s free kick seals it
Milan, a man down, held the score through most of the second half, and Fikayo Tomori went into the book on 63 minutes. Bournemouth wrapped it up from a free kick. Adli, on as a 77th-minute substitute, drove the ball through the wall at the near post on 84 minutes. De Winter was booked three minutes earlier.
Torriani kept the margin at three with a late save from Rayan.
Bournemouth top of the pile
Bournemouth lined up with Di Gregorio in goal behind Hill, Diakité, Silva and Truffert, with Tavernier, Kluivert and Gannon-Doak supporting Evanilson. They had opened the league phase with a 2-1 win away at Real Sociedad and a 3-0 home win over Sturm Graz.
Three games in, Rose’s side have nine points and eight goals scored and one conceded. Their next match is at Old Trafford on Sunday.
