Bournemouth win again in Europa League as Milan slump to Ferencvaros
- Bournemouth came from a goal down to beat 10-man Sparta Prague 3-1 and stay top with four wins from four.
- AC Milan lost 2-0 at home to Ferencvaros, their third defeat in four Europa League games.
- Crystal Palace drew 1-1 with Hoffenheim after Daichi Kamada scored in stoppage time.
Bournemouth's first season in the Europa League keeps getting better. On Thursday night the Cherries recovered from conceding first to beat Sparta Prague 3-1 away, a fourth win in four matches that leaves them top of the league phase table.
Sparta went ahead through Ebrima Singhateh, who carried the ball from inside his own half and finished the run himself. Bournemouth had already missed a chance to lead, with Lewis Cook striking the post from the penalty spot.
The game turned before the break when Sparta's Tobias Guddal was sent off. Tyler Adams levelled on 57 minutes, Evanilson put the visitors in front with nine minutes left, and Rayan added a third late on. The substitutes helped send the European newcomers to the top of the table.
Rose's team have now won seven games in a row in all competitions. They travel to Ipswich in the Premier League this weekend.
"It's a big achievement and we have to continue," Rose told TNT Sports. He warned his players against relaxing: "If we get in a comfort zone just a little bit we get in trouble."
Milan's troubles deepen at San Siro
AC Milan are heading the other way. Ruben Amorim's side lost 2-0 at home to Ferencvaros, their third defeat in four Europa League outings, and sit outside the top 24 with three points at the halfway point of the league phase.
Lenny Joseph, a Haiti international, scored both goals in the second half for Ferencvaros, who kept their own 100 percent record despite losing Bamidele Yusuf to a red card.
Amorim did not hide his feelings. "We were not prepared to play football tonight," he told Sky Sport, adding that his team "made stupid errors" and could not perform like that in front of their own supporters.
He insisted he would not walk away from the competition. "As long as we're not mathematically out of it, we'll keep fighting," he said.
In London, Crystal Palace drew 1-1 with Hoffenheim. Alexander Prass gave the visitors an early lead, Palace lost Adam Wharton to a second yellow card, and Daichi Kamada rescued a point in stoppage time.
Palace, who won the Conference League last season, have five points from four Europa League games but are in the Premier League relegation zone, just behind Manchester United on goal difference.
What happens next
Bournemouth are top of the table at the halfway stage, while Milan are outside the top 24 and need results quickly. Palace, meanwhile, have a fight on their hands at home as well as in Europe.
