Milan pay the penalty in 2-2 home draw with Bologna

MILAN: AC Milan were left to rue two missed penalties as they were held to a 2-2 home draw by Bologna who converted a late spot-kick themselves in a roller-coaster Serie A match on Saturday (Jan 27).

With Milan poised for a home win after a Ruben Loftus-Cheek double, their young defender Filippo Terracciano pulled Victor Kristiansen's shirt as the Bologna player ran towards the back post to meet a cross in stoppage time and conceded a penalty.

Riccardo Orsolini converted from the spot to secure a draw for the visitors after Olivier Giroud and Theo Hernandez had both missed their penalties for the home side.

Milan are third with 46 points after 22 games, seven adrift of leaders Juventus, who were held to a 1-1 home draw by Empoli, and five behind second-placed Inter Milan, who have two games in hand. Bologna are seventh with 33 points from 21 matches.

Inter visit fifth-placed Fiorentina on Sunday.

"We leave with regrets that we did not win the game," Milan manager Stefano Pioli told Sky Sport Italia.

"It’s true that there were two missed penalties, we had lots of chances and allowed Bologna a few too, but we had still been able to take the lead anyway and were ready to take the result home."

In the 16th minute, matching the number worn by Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan, there was a brief stoppage in play as the stadium displayed support for the France international who last weekend suffered racist abuse during the game at Udinese.

That match was briefly halted after Maignan alerted the referee to racist chanting directed at him. On Saturday, fans shone their phones and applauded before play resumed.

Joshua Zirkzee broke the deadlock for Bologna in the 29th minute, firing between Maignan's legs from a tight angle.

The goal triggered