Red Card and Penalties Doom AC Milan to 3-0 Bournemouth Defeat
AC Milan dropped two of their opening three UEFA Europa League league phase matches following a 3-0 defeat against AFC Bournemouth at Vitality Stadium on Thursday. The Italian side self-destructed inside the opening 28 minutes through defensive indiscipline and an early red card.
Mike Maignan Red Card and Early Penalties Dismantle AC Milan Defensive Structure
Bournemouth took control after Koni De Winter committed a handball inside the penalty area during a corner kick sequence. Justin Kluivert converted the resulting spot kick to give the host side an early lead.
AC Milan
clubThe match turned decisively in the 28th minute when referee Vassilis Fotias dismissed AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan for shoving Tyler Adams in the face during another set-piece struggle inside the box. The infraction yielded a second penalty, which Marcus Tavernier converted against the depleted visitors.
Playing with ten men, head coach Ruben Amorim maintained a tactical structure featuring three central defenders shifting into a low five-man block under pressure. Bournemouth extended their advantage late in the second half when Amine Adli scored directly from a free kick to wrap up the victory.
Mike Maignan
player- Early: Goal, Justin Kluivert penalty (Bournemouth)
- 28th Minute: Red Card, Mike Maignan (AC Milan)
- 28th Minute: Goal, Marcus Tavernier penalty (Bournemouth)
- Late: Goal, Amine Adli free kick (Bournemouth)
Referee Vassilis Fotias issued a direct red card to AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan in the 28th minute following a violent conduct incident involving Bournemouth midfielder Tyler Adams inside the penalty area.
โThe penalty on the corner and the red card changed everything, so it was not a game. It was not a game. We didnโt have time to recover from the first penalty. We tried to push in the end, but the third goal made it even harder for us.โ
AC Milan head coach Ruben Amorim reflected on his side’s costly errors during his post-match interview with Sky Sport Italia. The defeat leaves Milan on three points from three games in the UEFA Europa League overall phase ahead of their upcoming Serie A fixture against Udinese.