U.S. men’s national team captain Christian Pulisic was on the scoresheet yet again for AC Milan on Sunday, scoring the equalizer in a dramatic Serie A clash at Fiorentina.
Pulisic’s equalizer was important and impressive in equal measure, the product of some solid buildup play by Milan. Theo Hernandez eventually received the ball on the left flank and whipped in a stellar cross towards the far post, where Pulisic was running. He thrust his right foot in the air, needing just one touch to score from an angle and level the score in the 60th minute.
Take a look below.
It was a much-needed equalizer for Milan, who survived an early moment of trouble when Mike Maignan saved Moise Kean’s penalty. They eventually went down in the 35th minute thanks to a goal from Yacine Adli but missed two crucial opportunities to get back in the game. Fiorentina goalkeeper David de Gea saved Hernandez’s penalty in first-half stoppage time, and then de Gea mustered a second save in the 58th minute when Milan’s Tammy Abraham stepped up to take a spot kick of his own.
The joy of Pulisic’s equalizer was short-lived, though, as Fiorentina’s Albert Gudmundsson scored to give his side a 2-1 lead in the 73rd minute.
The result continued a woeful start to the season for Milan. Though there have been some highs like their 2-1 victory over Inter in the Derby della Madonnina, they have gone winless more often than not. They currently sit sixth in Serie A and are five points off first place, and they’ve lost the opening two games of their UEFA Champions League campaign.
Pulisic, though, has been a lone bright spot in Milan’s first season under manager Paulo Fonseca. He now has six goals and two assists in nine games across all competitions, including in their win over Inter and in their opening Champions League game of the season against Liverpool. He has scored in four consecutive games for Milan, becoming the first USMNT player to do so in a top-five European league since Queens Park Rangers’ Roy Wegerle in 1990, per Opta.
The USMNT captain will be one of the most in-form players during this month’s international break, which will be the national team’s first under new head coach Mauricio Pochetitno. The USMNT will play two friendlies this month – one on Saturday against Panama in Austin, Texas and the other against Mexico in Guadalajara on Oct. 15.
KVSP