Bournemouth stun AC Milan 3-0 with two penalties and a late free-kick

Bournemouth reached new heights in their debut Europa League campaign with a thumping 3-0 win over AC Milan at the Vitality Stadium. The home side overwhelmed the Italian giants from start to finish, and the visitors played more than an hour with ten men after goalkeeper and captain Mike Maignan was sent off. Justin Kluivert, Marcus Tavernier and Amine Adli got the goals on a night the south coast club will never forget.

• Bournemouth dominated throughout and beat AC Milan 3-0 in their first European campaign.
• Mike Maignan was sent off in the first half for striking James Hill in the face at a corner.
• Justin Kluivert and Marcus Tavernier scored from the penalty spot before Amine Adli added a superb late free-kick.
• Seven-time European champions AC Milan produced a dismal display and were lucky to lose by only three goals.

Bournemouth's dream European debut rocks AC Milan

There was something almost surreal about the occasion. Bournemouth, a club playing League Two football as recently as 2010, were hosting the seven-time kings of Europe in a stadium that holds fewer than 12,000 people. A giant tifo in the North Stand asked the question on everyone's mind: "How did we end up here?" The answer came quickly on the pitch, where Marco Rose's side pressed relentlessly and attacked at breathless pace under torrential rain.

The Cherries started like a team possessed. Within three minutes Evanilson had delivered a dangerous cross that Kluivert failed to connect with, and Ben Gannon-Doak saw his shot deflected behind. A minute later Evanilson glanced a header narrowly wide, but a VAR review confirmed the ball had struck the raised hand of Koni De Winter. It was the kind of handball call that would rarely be given in the Premier League, but Bournemouth are learning the European game fast. Kluivert stepped up and rolled the penalty into the bottom corner.

Maignan's moment of madness changes everything

Milan tried to respond, but every forward move died against a Bournemouth side relentless in the tackle. Ryan Christie's drive from the edge of the box was held at the second attempt by Maignan on a slippery surface, and the French goalkeeper also dealt with a Evanilson shot that posed less danger than it should have. The real trouble came from James Hill, whose low effort skidded off the wet turf and forced Maignan to scramble the ball around the post.

It was from the resulting corner that the Milan captain lost his head completely. Maignan raised both hands firmly to the face of Tyler Adams, a shocking abdication of responsibility from a player wearing the armband. VAR took its time checking the on-field red card, but there was little chance it would be overturned. Milan were down to ten men with more than an hour still to play, and the punishment was not over yet.

Two first-half penalties and a stunning Adli free-kick

Substitute goalkeeper Lorenzo Torriani's first action was to pick the ball out of his own net. Marcus Tavernier converted the second penalty of the night to make it 2-0 before the interval. From that point Bournemouth cruised, although in truth even eleven against eleven had been a comfortable ride for the home side. The Cherries looked every inch a team at ease on the European stage, despite this being their maiden campaign.

The second half confirmed the gulf between the sides. Substitute Rayan rose superbly to meet a cross and headed just over the bar when he should have done better. Milan, unrecognisable from the side that won Serie A four years ago, barely threatened and spent most of the half trying to keep the scoreline respectable. They failed. Amine Adli curled a magnificent free-kick into the net to make it 3-0, a strike that gave the scoreline a thoroughly deserved gloss.

What this result means for Bournemouth and Milan

The win strengthens Bournemouth's grip on a strong position in the group and keeps their dream of knockout football very much alive. Marco Rose's project delivered a statement performance against one of the most storied clubs in European history, built on high pressing, rapid transitions and unshakeable belief. Rayan even came close to a fourth goal late on, denied by Torriani, but the night already belonged to the Cherries.

For AC Milan the damage is significant. The seven-time continental champions offered a wretched display, outworked, outplayed and outfought from the opening whistle. Maignan's red card symbolised a lack of discipline that manager Ruben Amorim must address immediately. The heavy defeat in the English south coast leaves their Europa League ambitions in serious trouble and raises difficult questions about the direction of the team.