Milan Win Nine-Goal Thriller

AC Milan narrowly beat Parma 5-4 in a nine-goal Serie A thriller at the Stadio Ennio Tardini on Sunday Night.

Milan maintained their 100% league start as both teams were reduced to 10 men in the second-half.

The first effort at goal went the way of Milan in the fourth minute, when Mattia De Scigilo unleashed a drive from the edge of the box but saw his shot sail over the crossbar.

Two minutes later at the other end Diego Lopez was on hand to block out Ishak Belfodil’s strike from a tight angle.

Milan should have scored in the 23rd minute as Keisuke Honda drove to the by-line before crossing towards debutant Giacomo Bonaventura who only managed to steer his header wide from six yards out.

Two minutes later Bonaventura made up for his earlier miss as he put Milan in the lead. The former Atlanta man was played through by Honda to fire home into the bottom corner, 1-0.

Parma leveled matters merely two minutes later through Antonio Cassano who turned home Cristobal Jorques' cross from close range, 1-1.

Milan regained their one goal advantage in the 37th minute as Honda headed in from six-yards out following a cross from Ignazio Abate, 2-1.

Milan were awarded a penalty on the 45th minute mark when Lucarelli clipped the heels of Jeremy Menez inside the area. Menez picked himself up to convert the resultant spot-kick to hand the visitors a two goal advantage heading into half-time.

Six minutes into the second-half Parma pulled one back as Felipe got to the end of Jorques’ cross to convert, 3-2.

Milan were reduced to ten men in the 58th minute when defender Daniele Bonera received a second yellow card for blocking Jorques’s shot with his hand.

Against the run of play Nigel De Jong restored Milan's two-goal cushion in the 68th minute, as he drove through Parma’s defence before striking beneath the onrushing goalkeeper, 4-2.

Five minutes later Parma reduced the deficit courtesy of Allessandro Lucarelli’s header from a corner, 4-3.

Parma’s Felipe was also sent off after receiving a second yellow for a foul on Menez.

Menez then made it 5-3 for Milan after dribbling past the goalkeeper to backheel into goal.

On the 90th minute mark Parma pulled one back after Lopez failed to control De Sciglio’s back pass, 5-4, but Felippo Inzaghi's managed to hold on for their second successive win.