AC Milan claimed a thrilling 1-0 victory against promoted Genoa in a Serie A showdown on Saturday, with a late strike from Christian Pulisic propelling them to the top of the league table. However, the match concluded in a frenzy as both goalkeepers received red cards, and striker Olivier Giroud took the gloves to secure the win.
U.S. international Pulisic etched his name in the Milan annals with an 87th-minute half-volley from near the penalty spot. He was brilliantly set up by Yunus Musah, breaking the deadlock and granting Milan the vital lead.
The game took an unexpected turn in stoppage time when Milan’s goalkeeper, Mike Maignan, was shown a red card for a foul on Caleb Ekuban. In an extraordinary twist, Olivier Giroud assumed the role of goalkeeper for the visitors.
In a nail-biting moment, Genoa’s Albert Gudmundsson rattled the crossbar with a powerful free-kick from the edge of the box. Giroud then showcased his heroics by denying George Puscas just before the final whistle.
Milan’s coach, Stefano Pioli, commended the team’s mentality, saying, “I like to think that what Giroud did is part of our mentality. Pulisic wanted to go in goal and perhaps he had already done it, but I told him that he was too short. We have been lucky in the last few episodes, but it is part of the mentality of a group that wants to give its best and that makes me happy.”
The hard-fought victory marked Milan’s seventh win in eight games, propelling them two points clear at the summit of the Serie A table. This was made possible as rivals Inter Milan squandered an early two-goal lead, settling for a 2-2 draw at home against Bologna earlier in the day.
Milan, grappling with injuries, saw coach Pioli make six changes to the starting lineup that triumphed 2-0 against Lazio in their previous outing. Notably, midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek joined Rade Krunic and Ismael Bennacer on the sidelined list.
Genoa, who had previously showcased their prowess with a 4-1 win against AS Roma and a 2-2 draw against champions Napoli in September, held their own against Milan in a closely contested first half. However, Pioli’s strategic substitutions, introducing Rafael Leao and Pulisic, ultimately paid dividends.
Genoa goalkeeper Josep Martinez made a crucial save in the 65th minute, tipping a Leao header over the bar, a testament to his skills between the posts. However, Martinez also received a red card in the dying moments, following Maignan’s dismissal, when he collected his second booking.
As Milan prepares to host Juventus after the international break, they will be without Maignan and defender Theo Hernandez, who accrued his fifth yellow card of the season. Milan’s ascent to the Serie A summit promises an exciting season ahead for the Rossoneri faithful.
