Soccer Football - Serie A - AC Milan v Bologna - San Siro, Milan, Italy - January 27, 2024 AC Milan's Olivier Giroud misses a penalty REUTERS/Daniele Mascolo
MILAN (Reuters) -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.
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 a response from the hosts and they won a penalty when Simon Kjaer was deemed to have been caught by Lewis Ferguson's foot attempting a diving header.
The decision, visibly frustrating for Thiago Motta, led to the Bologna coach being sent off after a heated discussion with the referee.
Giroud's spot-kick was, however, saved by Lukasz Skorupski.
Just before the break, Loftus-Cheek equalised by poking the ball home at the near post from Davide Calabria's cross.
Milan were awarded another penalty late in the second half when Rafael Leao was caught in the face by Sam Beukema's hand. Hernandez hit the post and although he bundled the rebound home it was disallowed as nobody else had touched the ball.
Loftus-Cheek claimed his second with a header seven minutes from time before 20-year-old Terracciano, making his Serie A debut for Milan, pulled down Kristiansen, allowing Orsolini to equalise from the spot.
Milan play Frosinone away on Saturday before Napoli visit the San Siro on Feb. 11.
(Reporting by Tommy Lund in Gdansk, editing by Ed Osmond and Ken Ferris)
