Goalkeeper Alberto Brignoli grabs Benevento first point in AC Milan draw

Benevento claimed their first Serie A point in dramatic style as goalkeeper Alberto Brignoli scored an injury-time equaliser against AC Milan.

Newly-promoted Benevento looked to be heading for a 15th straight defeat as they trailed 2-1 to 10-man Milan, who had Gennaro Gattuso in the dugout for the first time.

However, goalkeeper Alberto Brignoli headed in five minutes into injury-time to snatch a point.

"I don't believe it," Brignoli told Sky Sports Italia. "It is so difficult to score in a situation like that.

"I'm happy for everyone, for the president who never said a word out of place, for the fans who are living a dream and who certainly expected something better.

"I heard someone say, 'Get on, get in,' so I went to the area to jump and I closed my eyes. It was an instinctive act.

"I jumped like a goalkeeper and not a striker. We have lost so many times in 90 minutes. For once, after months of sacrifice, we've done it."

Bonaventura had opened the scoring for Milan after 38 minutes at the Stadio Vigorito before George Puscas pulled Benevento level five minutes after the break.

Nikola Kalinic got Milan back in front seven minutes later only for Alessio Romagnoli to be sent off for a second bookable offence, leaving the visitors a man down for the final 15 minutes.

But in the final seconds of the game, as Benevento looked set for their 15th straight defeat, Brignoli jumped highest after a desperate last free-kick to scenes of euphoria among the home crowd.

Former Milan midfielder Gattuso had taken over midweek after predecessor Vincenzo Montella was sacked as the former European giants sit seventh way below the Champions League ambitions of their new Chinese owners.

"It burns, it hurts," said Gattuso, whose side can slip further depending on results later Sunday. "I never expected to concede a goal to the goalkeeper in the 94th minute."

"We have to improve our form and mentality but I've nothing to hold against the players," he added. "They gave everything when down to ten. We conceded a goal that hurt.

"We lost the ball too many times playing out of defence. Trying to do something new is good, but we knew that despite the defeats, Benevento have been doing much better in terms of performance lately."

Benevento had surpassed Manchester United's 12-game losing start, a record established 87 years ago, on November 19.