AFC Bournemouth made it three wins from three in the Europa League after beating 10-man Italian giants AC Milan 3-0 at the Vitality Stadium.
AFC Bournemouth made it three wins from three in the Europa League after beating 10-man Italian giants AC Milan 3-0 at the Vitality Stadium.
Wearing the red and white famously inspired by the seven-time European Cup winners, two first-half penalties from Justin Kluivert and Marcus Tavernier and a stunning second-half free-kick
from substitute Amine Adli were enough to see off Ruben Amorim’s side.
Bournemouth dominated play before and after AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan’s red card for a push on Tyler Adams half-way through the first half, with the away side struggling for any real chances.
A flurry of second-half efforts saw the Cherries come close to a third early on, before late-sub Amine Adli rifled in a free-kick from just outside the area.
The win sees Bournemouth go up to third in the Europa League, level on points with Bayer Leverkusen and Benfica.
Bournemouth manager Marco Rose said: “We were brilliant from the first minute, until the last minute.
"We suffocated them and didn’t give them anything.”
On Gannon-Doak’s performance, Rose said: “We know his qualities.
“He’s a special player. You don’t find many players like ‘Doakie.”
AC Milan manager Ruben Amorim said: “It was a hard night for us.
“I didn’t feel that we had the time to put ourselves in the game.”
After finally getting their first Premier League win of the season on Sunday against Sunderland, the Cherries were faced with meeting a European heavyweight at a stormy Vitality stadium.
The early pressure was all that of the home side, with Justin Kluivert converting from the spot after just eight minutes when referee Vassilis Fotias gave a penalty with VAR’s consultation after a grazing handball by Koni de Winter in the Milan area.
AC Milan keeper Mike Maignan was shown a straight red on 27 minutes after pushing Tyler Adams in the face from a Cherries corner, gifting the Cherries a second penalty of the night.
Omari Hutchinson was the unfortunate replacement for Milan, being switched out for young ‘keeper Lorenzo Torriani.
Marcus Tavernier took and slotted home past the newly introduced 21-year-old on 32 minutes to put the Cherries two-to-the-good.
Ruben Amorim’s side never really got going, with Milan’s first real pressure coming in added time in the first half but was defended well by the Cherries.
The AC Milan boss made two half time changes, preferring Adrian Rabiot and Davide Bartesaghi to Rueben Loftus-Cheek and Pervis Estupinan.
Bournemouth came out with the same energy as before the break, penning Milan into their own half from the off.
Gannon-Doak continued his bright first half, having a cross cleared from the AC six-yard box before a Kluivert effort flew narrowly wide.
Marco Rose made a triple substitution with half an hour to go, with Tyler Adams and goalscorers
Marcus Tavernier and Justin Kluivert being replaced by Lewis Cook, Rayan and Alex Toth.
Rayan came close to a third just after his introduction, but his leaping header flew over the bar.
Alex Toth was forced off in the 77 th minute due to injury and replaced by Amine Adli, who less than ten minutes later curled a free kick into the top left corner of the AC Milan net.
Rayan could have made it four on 87 minutes, but his effort close to goal went narrowly wide.
The Cherries travel to Old Trafford on Sunday in search of a second Premier League win.
Final score: AFC Bournemouth 3 - 0 AC Milan
Attendance: 12,130