AC Milan overcomes shaky start to win Europa League group
AC Milan averted potential disaster Thursday against Austria Vienna, scoring five unanswered goals to win 5-1 and claim top spot in Europa League Group D.
The result saw the Rossoneri end a four-match winless streak at the San Siro and punch a ticket to the Round of 32.
Vienna took a shocking 21st-minute lead when Leonardo Bonucci failed to clear a tame shot off the line. Gianluigi Donnarumma had rushed out to challenge for the ball, only for Christoph Monschein to beat him.
Emboldened by that embarrassment, Milan found goals through Ricardo Rodriguez, Andre Silva, and Patrick Cutrone.
Silva and Cutrone each struck the net twice in their latest plea to manager Vincenzo Montella for more starts. Montella has routinely turned to Nikola Kalinic in Serie A, leaving the scraps to Silva and Cutrone in Europa League play.
Former Porto striker Silva, who cost the club €38 million last summer, is now the joint-top scorer in the Europa League group stage with six goals to his name.