After three consecutive losses, the Milan were set to lose yet another game, but had the courage to rewrite a lost match. Lecce were 2-0 ahead, and for a brief moment, it appeared as though Sergio Conceição's men were set for another frustrating match. That was when Christian Pulisic, the USMNT star, came to rewrite the story of the game.
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With two goals and an impeccable display, Captain America was the undisputed star of Milan's 3-2 come-from-behind victory. He scored and saved the penalty that leveled the game, and he rose to the occasion to deliver the winning goal. A display that not only earned Milan three points but also attested to Pulisic's worth in the team.
A disastrous start and a recommendation-stumped Milan
Milan's situation this season is not ideal. The team has been inconsistent, alternating between poor games and tragic defeats. And against Lecce, it appeared that another chapter in this rollercoaster campaign was about to unfold.
The second half was an imitation of Milan's woes: generated opportunities, disallowed attempts, shots on the post, and finally, a deficit in the scorecards. Only 13 minutes in, Krstović punished a defensive blunder and took Lecce ahead. Did Milan respond? They attempted it. Giménez scored, but he was offside. Then Gabbia scored again a minute or so later, only for VAR to disallow it once again. To put icing on the cake, Krstović also came within a whisker of doubling the advantage, slamming it against the crossbar.
And then, in the second half, another goal. Krstović scored again in the 59th minute on a great play, taking the lead for Lecce to 2-0. Milan seemed out of ideas, but then came that turning point all of a sudden.
Pulisic takes the lead and turns the game
The comeback began with the introduction of Rafael Leão and João Félix, who injected new life into the team. In the 67th minute, João Félix fired wide, and Gallo accidentally deflected the ball into his own net. Milan was back in the game. But they still needed someone to step up and take control. That's when Christian Pulisic shone.
He earned himself a foul at the 73rd minute and, with a touch of class, leveled the score. Milan, who had been lost just minutes earlier, now had the advantage. Lecce became desperate and fell back, hoping to get at least a draw. But Pulisic was not done yet.
At the 84th minute, Leão found Pulisic in the box, and the American, never in doubt, passed the ball home, securing the historic 3-2 comeback. Milan had converted a two-goal deficit into victory in a Serie A match for the first time since 2021.
The USMNT sensation is Milan's talisman and the pillar of the future
If Milan still has any hopes for something bigger this season, a lot of it will depend on Christian Pulisic. The USMNT sensation is simply the most straightforward player on the team since his arrival in Serie A. With 14 goals and 20 direct goal contributions, no other Milan player has even come close to his numbers.
Moreover, with Lecce, he marked another incredible milestone: he's now the all-time Milan scorer in Serie A since his inception. Nobody would ever dispute that he has played a crucial part in the team, and today's victory is just another plus to his ever-growing reputation.
And now, is Milan battling for the Champions League anymore?
Despite the win, Milan is not well-placed this season. The team is currently in eighth position with 44 points, quite far from the Champions League positions. Juventus, who is in fourth and possesses the last qualification position, has 52 points, which is a hard gap to overcome.
If Milan are going to make a comeback, they just cannot afford to drop points against weaker teams. The stretch of matches towards the end of the season will be the deciding factor on whether the Rossoneri can at least qualify for European competition.