Genoa 0-1 Milan (October 7, 2023) Match analysis

Christian Pulisic scored a late goal to give Milan a 1-0 win over newly promoted Genoa and put them at the top of Serie A on Saturday, but the match ended in chaos after the two goalkeepers were sent off and striker Olivier Giroud scored, the visiting team’s goalkeeper. .

American star Pulisic scored the lead goal in the 87th minute with a shot from close to the penalty spot after a wonderful pass from his colleague Younes Moussa, giving Milan the lead.

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The goal was Pulisic’s fourth in the Italian League for Milan since his summer transfer from Chelsea.

But the three points were hanging by a thread as the match took a chaotic turn when Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan received a red card for a foul on Caleb Ekuban late in stoppage time and Giroud took his place in goal.

Fortunately for the Frenchman, Genoa’s Albert Gudmundsson fired a free kick against the crossbar from the edge of the penalty area, and Giroud then made a brilliant save from George Puskas before the final whistle.

“I like to think that what Giroud did is part of our mentality,” Milan coach Stefano Pioli told DAZN.

“Pulisic wanted to go in and probably did, but I told him he was too short.

“We’ve been lucky in the last few episodes, but it’s part of the mentality of the group that wants to give its best and that makes me happy.”

Milan, which achieved its seventh win in eight matches, moved ahead by two points at the top of the standings after rival Inter Milan squandered an early two-goal lead to draw 2-2 at home with Bologna earlier on Saturday.

Milan suffered from injuries, and coach Stefano Pioli made six changes to the starting lineup that beat Lazio 2-0 last weekend, with midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek joining Rade Krunic and Ismail Bennacer on the sidelines.

Genoa, which in September won 4-1 over Roma and tied with defending champion Napoli 2-2, was able to maintain the tie in an even first half, before Pioli brought on Rafael Leao and Pulisic after the break in an attempt to break the barriers. Inertia.

Genoa goalkeeper Josep Martinez blocked a wonderful shot to keep Leao’s header, which bounced off the ground, aside for a corner kick in the 65th minute.

Martinez also received a red card in the final minutes when the Spaniard received his second warning.

Milan will play without Maignan and defender Theo Hernandez, who received the fifth yellow card, when it hosts Juventus in the Italian League after the international break.