Bournemouth beats 10-man AC Milan 3-0 in Europa League

AFC Bournemouth scored twice from the penalty spot and once from a free kick to beat 10-man AC Milan 3-0 in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday at Vitality Stadium.

The win was the Cherries’ third in three matches of the league phase. Milan, a seven-time European champion, played more than an hour a man down after goalkeeper Mike Maignan was sent off in the 28th minute, according to UEFA’s official match record.

Justin Kluivert opened the scoring in the eighth minute, converting a penalty with a right-footed shot into the bottom right corner. Marcus Tavernier doubled the lead from the spot in the 32nd minute, sending a left-footed shot into the bottom left corner, four minutes after Maignan’s dismissal.

Amine Adli sealed the result in the 84th minute, curling a left-footed free kick into the bottom left corner, ESPN’s match report shows.

The numbers matched the scoreline. Bournemouth had 64 per cent of the ball and outshot Milan 20 to three, with seven shots on target. Milan did not put a single shot on target, according to ESPN’s match statistics. The crowd was announced at 12,130.

Bournemouth’s Bafodé Diakité and Tyler Adams were booked in the first half. Milan’s Pervis Estupiñán, Fikayo Tomori and Koni De Winter were also cautioned.

The result leaves Bournemouth with nine points from three matches, third in the 36-team league-phase table, according to ESPN’s standings. Milan has three points from one win and two losses and sits 24th, the last of the places that keep a club in the competition beyond the league phase.

Both clubs return to domestic play on Sunday. Bournemouth visits Manchester United at Old Trafford at 10 a.m. Eastern time (8 a.m. Mountain), while Milan travels to Udinese at 3:45 p.m. Eastern (1:45 p.m. Mountain).

Thursday’s win extends a strong European week for English clubs. On Wednesday, Aston Villa beat Viking 3-1 for its third Champions League win, while Manchester United had a rougher night as Como stunned United 4-1. Closer to home, Forge FC beat CF Montréal on penalties to win the Canadian Championship.

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