da 888： AC Milan squandered a Ruben Loftus-Cheek brace by missing two penalty kicks in an eventual 2-2 draw with Bologna
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Milan draw 2-2 with BolognaPulisic starts, Musah benchedRossoneri miss two penalty kicksGettyWHAT HAPPENED?
Playing within the friendly confines of the San Siro, Milan were pegged back early on a fantastic goal from Joshua Zirkzee, who took advantage of a scramble in the box. After several shots were blocked away by Milan defenders, the Dutchman had the precision to nutmeg Milan's Mike Maignan, giving Bologna the lead in the 29th minute.
From there controversy and chaos took hold, leading to Bologna boss Thiago Motta's dismissal. After a controversial penalty call against Bologna, Motta was handed red for his irate protests. Olivier Giroud, though, missed the ensuing spot kick, sparing Bologna. Milan did inevitably get their goal just before halftime, though, when Davide Calabria drilled a pass into the feet of Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who was able to poke it home to send the two sides into halftime level at one apiece.
Late in the match, Milan were handed a second penalty after Rafael Leao took a hand to the face in the box. With Giroud out of the match, Theo Hernandez stepped up and proceeded to smash his spot kick off the post. The ball bounced back to the French defender, who put the ball into the back of the net, but the goal was ultimately ruled out.
Loftus-Cheek, though, put Milan on his back, scoring another goal in the 83rd minute. It marked his first brace since moving to Serie A but it wouldn't be the winner. That's because Bologna were handed a penalty of their own in stoppage time after Filippo Terracciano dragged down Victor Kristiansen with a shirt pull. Riccardo Orsolini stepped up to bury Bologna's penalty, giving them a split of the points with the 2-2 draw.
AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE
With the draw, Milan's title hopes take a massive, massive blow as they'll be left with plenty of work to do in the three-horse title race. Juventus are currently top, seven points ahead of the Rossoneri, who sit third with 46 points. Inter, meanwhile, are sandwiched between them on 51 points, but have two games in hand, making them favorites at the moment in this tight Scudetto race.
GettyUSMNT IMPACT
Pulisic continued to be a regular starter on Milan's right-hand side, although, on this day, he was largely overshadowed by the work done by Leao on the left. The Portuguese star was dangerous throughout, with Milan regularly finding success on the left.
Pulisic, though, did have his moments. He created two chances and had one shot that just missed the frame. He also got the hockey assist on Milan's first goal, although most of the credit will go to Calabria for that one. Milan may need to consider letting the winger take a penalty or two as the American has made each of his eight spot kicks for the USMNT.
His USMNT teammate, Yunus Musah, joined the fray in the 59th minute, joining Alessandro Florenzi and Luka Jovic among Stefano Pioli's first wave of substitutions. Musah was tidy when on the ball during his time on the field, keeping things ticking while misplacing just one of his passes on the day.
GettyGOAL'S RATINGS
Christian Pulisic (7/10):
Played the pass before the pass on Milan's first goal and had a few good moments in a game Milan could have, and should have, won.
Yunus Musah (7/10):
Did exactly what was asked of him after coming on. Provided stability in the midfield and kept things moving. Not much more you can ask for.