AC Milan 1 - 0 Delfino Pescara 1936: Bonaventura goal proves the difference as AC Milan edge past Pescara

Posted Monday, October 31, 2016 by PA

Giacomo Bonaventura's second-half strike proved enough as AC Milan bounced back from the midweek defeat at Genoa with a 1-0 victory over Pescara at San Siro to move up to third in Serie A.

The first few chances of the match fell to the visitors but Gianluca Caprari fired wide before team-mates Ledian Memushaj and Alessandro Crescenzi both had chances saved by Milan goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.

The hosts began to find their feet after 13 minutes as M'Baye Niang sent the ball high and wide, while Carlos Bacca had an effort saved and Suso was denied by the Pescara defence with the best chance so far.

Milan began to dominate and on the half-hour Bacca set up Niang outside the 18-yard box, but the Frenchman was unfortunate to miss the target.

Albano Bizzarri thwarted Mattia De Sciglio's chances of breaking the deadlock as half-time approached, Alessio Romagnoli sent his header wide and Niang's header hit the crossbar as the score remained goalless at the break.

The home side began the second half on a mission and took the lead just four minutes in as Italy midfielder Bonaventura slotted his free-kick under the Pescara wall and into the bottom corner.

The away side thought they had levelled through Ahmad Benali moments later but the referee ruled the goal out for offside.

Donnarumma put in a great diving save to hold out Ledian Memushaj's header and keep Milan's clean sheet intact after 63 minutes, while Suso's effort was blocked at the other end when attempting to double the lead before he shot over the bar late on.