Bologna and AC Milan put on an entertaining match at the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara on Sunday, but the even keel of the game was often disrupted by an abysmal display of refereeing by Gianluca Rocchi. Rocchi turned a blind eye to a blatant Clarence Seedorf handball in the box, yet pointed to the spot when Zlatan Ibrahimovic fell over unprompted on at the other end. Still, Bologna managed to pull off a point, thanks to goals by Marco Di Vaio and Alessandro Diamanti. Seedorf scored the first for Milan, Ibrahimovic converted his penalty, and the rossoneri sink down to third.
Bologna Vs. AC Milan, 2011 Serie A: Fulltime, Refereeing Mars An Otherwise Fun 2-2 Draw
For the first ten minutes, it appeared as though Bologna would have no chance at all, as Milan passed the ball around and Ibra rattled the post. But then the rossoblu broke quickly, with Diamanti sending a lovely through-ball to Di Vaio. The Milan defense was unable to catch the forward, and although Marco Amelia came rushing forward, the keeper could do nothing as Di Vaio sent his lobbed shot high into the net.
By the 17th minute, however, the visitors had equalized, off an equally admirable goal by Seedorf. Kevin-Prince Boateng sent the ball in and Seedorf unleashed a rocket. Despite the acrobatic leap by Jean Francois Gillet, the Bologna keeper could do nothing as the ball flew into the top corner.
For the rest of the first half, viewers were treated to end-to-end football, as both sides genuinely threatened a second. But the general enjoyability of the match was undermined just before the break, when Seedorf stuck out his arm to deny a free kick as it flew into the area. A clear penalty, but Rocchi was having none of it -- instead, he showed a yellow to Panagiotis Kone for dissent.
Bologna returned to the pitch determined to push for a second. Di Vaio came close within a minute, but his chance for a brace went just wide of the post. For the next 25 minutes, both sides continued to play entertaining football, taking it in turns to provide the attack.
But then Rocchi took matters into his own hands once again. With Milan threatening, Bologna closed in, two defenders applying pressure on Ibrahimovic. The immense forward went down on his own, however, and the whistle immediately sounded. Gillet dove way too early, but it didn’t matter anyway -- Ibra’s penalty was the same as it was the week before, down the center, brushing the top of the net.
The home side managed to shake off their anger, or perhaps embraced it, feeding off it. While Milan lounged, feeling rather pleased with themselves, Bologna sprang forward once again. Diamanti got the ball just outside the area and fired low, a shot that most keepers would likely find an easy save. But the ball trickled through Amelia’s fingers and settled into the back of the net.
And so Bologna begin the slow process of lifting themselves into a more comfortable position in the table -- but if this match is anything to go by, the rossoblu have every reason to shake off fears of relegation.
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