Milan 2-1 Bologna: Bonaventura double gives Rossoneri much-needed win

By Oliver Fisher -

AC Milan snapped a streak of four straight home games without a win as they beat Bologna 2-1 at San Siro on Sunday night.

Giacomo Bonaventura gave the home side an early lead with a low strike, but ex-Milan man Simone Verdi equalised before the break.

Bonaventura was on hand once again to score a winner 76 minutes in and and Gennaro Gattuso his first win as coach of the first team.

The result means Milan move into seventh place, 11 points from fourth place but now just three points away from the Europa League places.

After starting the game on the front foot, Gattuso’s side took the lead. A clever knock-down from Nikola Kalinic fell into the path of Bonaventura, whose low shot took a deflection and beat Antonio Mirante to make it 1-0.

Just two minutes later it could have been 2-0 as Fabio Borini was found with a ball in behind, however the defender recovered well and the former Sunderland man was forced to hook a shot straight at Mirante.

Suso’s driving run in the 20th minute almost created a second for the home side, but the ball bobbled away from Kalinic who was waiting to convert. At the other end, Riccardo Montolivo rescued Leonardo Bonucci with a superb block.

The hosts were made to pay for missed opportunities moments later as ex-Milan man Simone Verdi levelled the game. A run from another former Milan player in Mattia Destro found Verdi in space, and he finished into the top corner from inside the box.

Milan were inches away from retaking the lead eight minutes before the break as Kessie rolled a ball towards Bonaventura, but Torisidis cut the ball out and cleared well for a corner.

After the break chances were few and far between, with the visitors happy to sit deep and try hit Milan on the break. Jessie had a couple of half chances, but saw his efforts blocked, while Bonucci fired over from 25 yards as the Rossoneri struggled to break the Rossoblu down.

However, with 15 minutes left they did manage to break the visitors down. A teasing cross from Fabio Borini on the right side was met by the perfectly run-and-jump of Bonaventura, who headed past Mirante to make it 2-1 and add his second of the game.

Bologna nearly responded immediately through Saphir Taider, who saw his header tipped wide by Donnarumma, before Mesina hit the bar with an effort from distance from the resulting corner.

Substitute Patrick Cutrone had a chance to make it 3-0 with five minutes remaining, but he sent a half volley wide after a neat one-two with Andre Silva.

Tags AC Milan Giacomo Bonaventura Italy Milan Milan Bologna News Rossoneri Serie A
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