ITALY. Genoa: AC Milan clinched a hard-fought 1-0 victory against promoted Genoa in a Serie A encounter, with Christian Pulisic delivering a dramatic late goal to seal the win.
However, the match took an unexpected turn as both goalkeepers received red cards, leaving Olivier Giroud to step into the role of goalkeeper for AC Milan.
In the 87th minute, Christian Pulisic, a key member of the United States national team, emerged as the hero by netting the decisive goal for Milan. The most notable story of the match unfolded in the injury time when Olivier Giroud, typically an attacker, donned the goalkeeper’s gloves and jersey to make two crucial saves, preserving AC Milan’s lead.
The turning point came when Milan’s regular goalkeeper, Mike Maignan, was shown a red card for a late foul on Caleb Ekuban, forcing Giroud into the goalkeeping position.
Genoa’s Albert Gudmundsson came close to equalizing with a free kick that hit the crossbar, but Giroud’s heroics included a vital save against George Puscas just before the final whistle. Head coach Stefano Pioli praised Giroud’s adaptability and contribution to the team’s philosophy.
This victory propelled AC Milan two points clear at the top of the league, as rivals Inter Milan recently drew 2-2 with Bologna after squandering a two-goal lead.
Milan faced injury setbacks with Rade Krunic, Ismael Bennacer, and Ruben Loftus-Cheek sidelined. In response, Pioli made six changes to the starting eleven that secured a 2-0 win against Lazio in their previous outing.
The first half of the match saw Genoa holding Milan at bay, but Pioli’s substitutions of Rafael Leao and Pulisic in the second half eventually paid dividends. Genoa’s goalkeeper, Josep Martinez, made a critical save in the 65th minute, denying a header from Leao.
In a dramatic twist, following Maignan’s expulsion, Genoa’s Martinez also received his second red card, further complicating the match’s closing moments.
As a result, Milan will face Juventus after the break without the services of Maignan and Theo Hernandez, both suspended after accumulating their fifth yellow cards.
This thrilling encounter between Milan and Genoa left fans and pundits alike in awe of Giroud’s unexpected goalkeeping prowess, securing a crucial victory for the Rossoneri in their quest for Serie A glory.
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