Roma backed off today as AC Milan set the tone early with a goal from an unlikely source: midfielder Yacine Adli. The Frenchman scored his first goal since joining Milan ahead of the 2022-23 season, cutting back into the box before picking his spot with his shot to give the hosts a 1-0 advantage.
After a fairly dominant first half, Milan finally got their second in the 56th minute, as Olivier Giroud fired home a flick from Simon Kjaer to give the hosts a bit of breathing room. They needed every little bit, as a foul in the box allowed Roma to get back into the match on a penalty kick from Leandro Paredes in the 69th minute.
Ultimately, though, there was no denying Milan. Theo Hernandez put the result beyond all doubt in the 84th minute, finishing off a spectacular one-two with Giroud headlined by the striker’s backheel pass.
Sunday’s win was an important return to form for Milan, who entered the match fresh off a frustrating midweek Coppa Italia exit. Despite taking the lead in the first half, Milan let Atalanta storm back, ending their hopes of winning their domestic cup.
That setback comes after Milan were already eliminated from the Champions League, leaving the Europa League and the Scudetto as the big prizes remaining for the Rossoneri as they head into the second half of the season.
While most of Milan’s cutting edge came from the left-hand side of Hernandez and Rafael Leao, Pulisic had some decent moments, even if he couldn’t quite get on the scoresheet.
He had one good chance set up by Olivier Giroud in the second half, although he was unable to properly swing his leg and generate any power on the ball. He also teed up Ruben Loftus-Cheek just before halftime, only for the English midfielder to fail to register a shot after breaking through.
In the second half, Pulisic had another good chance at goal but put his shot just wide. In total, Pulisic had four shots, only one of which was on target, as well as that one chance created on the ball through to Loftus-Cheek.
Pulisic came out of the game alongside Leao in the 79th minute as the attacking duo was replaced by USMNT star Yunus Musah and striker Noah Okafor.
