Christian Pulisic got here off the bench to attain a ‘Made in America’ late goal in AC Milan’s 1-0 win at Genoa after an intense finale on Saturday as the Rossoneri took a two-point lead at the top of Serie A.
Pulisic combined with United States teammate Yunus Musah to net the winner three minutes from time.
Fellow forward Olivier Giroud also had a crucial part to play in the match but in an unusual position. His vital double save in the 14th minute of injury time came as he ended the match wearing the goalkeeper’s gloves and jersey after Mike Maignan was despatched off. Milan had already used up all of its substitutes so Giroud took over in aim.
“I didn’t expect to experience these kinds of emotions at the other end of the field,” Giroud mentioned with a smile and nonetheless sporting Maignan’s jersey. “But it’s very important to have made these saves.
“I think I’m one of the tallest in the squad … so naturally I went in goal. I liked going in goal when I was a kid too. But it was a really special emotion when I made the save, almost like a goal.”
Genoa additionally had its goalkeeper despatched off in a separate incident.
Milan will spend the worldwide break solo on the high, two factors away from rival Inter Milan, which let slip a two-goal lead to attract 2-2 at residence to Bologna earlier Saturday.
Juventus was third, 4 factors behind Milan, following a 2-0 win over Torino in a derby match.
Milan would have been anticipating a tricky match at promoted Genoa, which thrashed Roma just lately and in addition beat Lazio in addition to holding defending champion Napoli to a draw.
But regardless of quite a lot of accidents, Milan coach Stefano Pioli opted to relaxation a few of his gamers following Wednesday’s 0-0 draw at Borussia Dortmund.
Milan’s star attacking trident of Pulisic, Rafael Leão and Giroud began on the bench. Pulisic and Leão have been introduced on at halftime and Giroud got here on within the 66th minute.
And it was Pulisic who broke the impasse when he managed Musah’s cross along with his again to aim and spun to drill the ball into the underside proper nook. There was an extended test by VAR earlier than the aim was awarded.
That was solely the beginning of a loopy finale. Milan goalkeeper Maignan was proven a straight crimson card within the eighth minute of stoppage time following a collision with Genoa ahead Caleb Ekuban.
Giroud assumed goalkeeping duties, pulling Maignan’s shirt over his personal as he did so.
Albert Guðmundsson nearly leveled from the ensuing free kick because it was deflected off the crossbar and Fikayo Tomori then headed one other try out for a nook.
Genoa goalkeeper Josep Martínez got here up for that however ended up fouling a participant and he was proven a yellow card and despatched off too.
Genoa got here near snatching the equalizer with virtually the final kick of the match however Giroud confirmed courageous goalkeeping expertise to hurry off the road and save from George Pușcaș earlier than desperately smothering the unfastened ball. He was surrounded and embraced by his teammates.
ADVANTAGE GONE
Inter appeared on target for victory when two objectives in as many minutes from Francesco Acerbi and Lautaro Martínez gave it a 2-0 lead after 13 minutes.
Martínez’s tenth Serie A aim of the season was a shocking rocket into the again of the online however the Argentine World Cup winner helped Bologna to get again into the match within the nineteenth minute when he hauled down Lewis Ferguson within the space.
Riccardo Orsolini struck the ensuing penalty into the underside nook. That was vital psychologically for Bologna, so quickly after going 2-0 down, and Joshua Zirkzee scored the equalizer seven minutes into the second half.
Alexis Sánchez thought he had restored Inter’s lead but it surely was dominated out for offside.
CHAOTIC GOAL
Two corners led to 2 objectives for Juventus.
The Bianconeri broke the impasse in considerably chaotic circumstances two minutes into the second half.
Filip Kostić whipped in a nook from the proper and Moise Kean’s overhead kick was cleared off the road by Torino captain Ricardo Rodríguez, who additionally tried to do the identical on Federico Gatti’s follow-up. The ball appeared to have already crossed the road, nevertheless, however Gatti headed within the rebound to verify.
The aim was initially disallowed for offside however was given on video overview after a prolonged test, permitting the 25-year-old Gatti to have a good time his first Serie A aim.
Juventus doubled its lead within the 62nd when Arkadiusz Milik headed in one other Kostić nook from the proper.
Kean additionally had an early aim dominated out for offside.
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