Bournemouth stun 10-man AC Milan to claim famous win in Europa League

The Italian giants, champions of Serie A only four years ago, were wretched, unable to match Marco Rose’s team who pressed them ruthlessly and attacked breathlessly in torrential conditions on the south coast.

The first two goals were penalties scored in the first half, by Justin Kluivert then by Marcus Tavernier, before Amine Adli added a magnificent late free-kick, but the home side ought to have had even more to show for their dominance.

Mike Maignan, the Milan goalkeeper and captain, let his team and his manager Ruben Amorim down badly and inexplicably, swiping at the face of James Hill at a corner, conceding a spot-kick and leaving his side to play for more than an hour with 10 players.

Bournemouth have looked perfectly at home on their maiden European adventure but, even so, this fixture had an almost surreal sound to it, the seven-time champions of Europe taking a hammering on a pitch that was hosting League Two football as recently as 2010.

“How did we end up here?” read a huge tifo unfurled in the North Stand before kick-off, but Bournemouth’s display suggested this might be just the beginning for them in Europe.

Bournemouth dominated from the off. In the third minute, Evanilson crossed, Kluivert missed it and Ben Gannon-Doak had his shot deflected behind.

Evanilson came closer still a minute later, glancing a header a foot wide of the post, but a VAR review confirmed the ball had touched the raised hand of Koni De Winter.

It was the kind of handball decision unlikely to be given in the Premier League, but Bournemouth are learning the ropes fast in Europe. From the penalty spot, Kluivert rolled into the bottom corner.

Ryan Christie’s drive from the edge of the box was held at the second attempt in the slippery conditions by Maignan, who also had an easier save than he might have done from an Evanilson shot.

The France international had far more trouble with James Hill’s low effort which skidded off the turf and had to be scrambled around the post.

From the corner that followed, Maignan lost his cool badly, raising two hands firmly to the face of Tyler Adams, an absurd abdication of responsibility from Milan’s captain.

VAR took its time in checking the on-field decision of red card but there was little chance it would be overturned. Substitute goalkeeper Lorenzo Torriani’s first action was to pick Tavernier’s penalty out of his net.

From then on, Bournemouth cruised, though in truth even 11 against 11 had been a canter. Substitute Rayan rose well to meet a cross and ought to have kept his header down.

Adli’s free-kick gave the scoreline an incredible but thoroughly deserved gloss, though Milan were lucky to escape with just three goals against them, Rayan denied a brilliant fourth goal for the Cherries late on by Torriani.