DRAW WITH BOLOGNA AT SAN SIRO
Serie A
In a match where they didn’t have a lot of luck, the Rossoneri came from behind thanks to a Ruben Loftus-Cheek brace only to suffer a late blow. Tonight, AC Milan were held to a 2-2 draw by Bologna at San Siro. The Englishman’s double turned things around after Zirkzee’s opener, but an Orsolini penalty in stoppage time secured a draw for the visiting side. In the end, Coach Pioli’s men were left to rue missed penalties from Olivier Giroud and Theo Hernández, with Reijnders and Leão also both hitting the woodwork in between. Having started with the same eleven that took to the pitch in Udine, AC Milan created several opportunities but didn’t get the rub of the green. The team certainly deserved a better result this evening.
It’s a tough one to swallow for the Rossoneri, who weren’t quite able to pick up three points on matchday 22 in Serie A and thus missed out on the chance to really push on in the league. Nevertheless, it was a solid performance from Coach Pioli’s men, who fought until the end and showed plenty of determination in their pursuit of victory. The players deserve applause for their efforts, as do the fans, who transformed the stadium into a sea of light in the 16th minute - the same number worn by Mike Maignan - to champion a call for change after what happened last weekend. On the whole, it’s been a positive January for AC Milan, who now sit on 46 points and will start February with a tricky match away to Frosinone. Come on, lads!
CHECK OUT THE GALLERY FROM AC MILAN v BOLOGNA
MATCH REPORT
The teams went toe-to-toe right from the off. The first chance of the game fell to Zirkzee in the tenth minute as the Dutchman got free on the edge of the box and let fly - Maignan made the stop. The Rossoneri looked to strike back through Leão but Skorupski kept the Portuguese's effort out (19'). On the half-hour mark, the Rossoneri's defence held firm to keep out Fabbian and Calafiori in the box but not Zirkzee, who wriggled free and squeezed the ball home to open the scoring (29'). The reaction was immediate. In the 33rd minute, Kjær headed over from Pulisic's cross before the US international himself got too much on the chip following Loftus-Cheek's ball. Another big chance came to AC Milan in the 40th minute when Ferguson made contact with Kjær in the box; Giroud stepped up to the spot but Skorupski made the save. AC Milan kept at it and, in the 45th minute, found the equaliser: Calabria's low cross found Loftus-Cheek, who connected with it and brought the Rossoneri level. 1-1 at the break.
The rhythm remained the same for the start of the second period. As with the first 45, the first chance of the half fell to Zirkzee, who blazed over from a good position (49'). Leão responded again with a powerful but imprecise effort. In the 64th minute, Reijnders let fly from the edge of the area and it struck the corner of the frame of the goal. Leão then looked to turn it home from Pulisic's cross but his shot struck the far post. Bad fortune would not keep the Rossoneri down as the hosts won another penalty in the 73rd minute - won by Leão on an unstoppable charge - but Hernández dragged his shot and it struck the upright. The Diavolo kept going. In the 83rd minute, Florenzi lofted it into the mixer and Loftus-Cheek headed the hosts in the lead. The disappointment came in stoppage time: in the 91st minute, Terracciano pulled Kristiansen's shirt and the referee awarded the guests the penalty. Orsolini stepped up, Maignan guessed right, but the ball went in. It ended 2-2.
MATCH DETAILS
AC MILAN 2-2 BOLOGNA
AC MILAN (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Calabria (59' Florenzi), Kjær, Gabbia, Hernández; Adli (59' Musah), Reijnders; Pulisic (87' Terracciano), Loftus-Cheek, Leão (87' Okafor); Giroud (60' Jović). Subs: Mirante, Sportiello; Jiménez, Pellegrino, Simić; Zeroli; Traoré. Coach: Pioli.
BOLOGNA (4-3-3): Skorupski; De Silvestri (82' Lucumí), Beukema, Calafiori, Kristiansen; Ferguson, Freuler, Aebischer (65' Moro); Fabbian (82' Orsolini), Zirkzee, Urbański (65' Saelemaekers). Subs: Bagnolini, Ravaglia; Corazza, Ilić, Lykogiannīs; Karlsson. Coach: Motta.
Referee: Massa from Imperia.
Goals: 29' Zirkzee (B), 45' and 83' Loftus-Cheek (M), 90'+1 pen. Orsolini (B).
Booked: 2' Calafiori (B), 22' Leão (M), 36' Calabria (M), 39' Ferguson (B), 44' Adli (M), 45'+2 Loftus-Cheek (M), 57' Urbański (B), 90'+1 Terracciano (M).
Sent off: 41' Motta (B).
Notes: 41' Skorupski (B) saves Giroud's (M) penalty, 75' penalty missed by Hernández (M).
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