[ad_1]
Christian Pulisic returned from injury to lead the fightback as Milan came from behind to beat Juventus and reach the Italian Super Cup final.
The 26-year-old USMNT forward won and then converted the penalty that brought his side back into the tie, before compatriot Yunus Musah’s deflected cross gave them a 2-1 lead after they had trailed to Kenan Yildiz’s first-half strike.
Pulisic had missed the last four games for his club after tearing a muscle in his right calf in December and then picking up an ankle problem during his rehabilitation.
Milan had always targeted Friday’s meeting with Juventus in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia for his return and he did so from the start at Al-Awwal Park.
He was in fine form and deserved to win the spot-kick that led to his first goal since November, after former Milan midfielder Manuel Locatelli tripped him in the area on 70 minutes.
Pulisic opted for power and smashed his penalty confidently into the top of the net, with Michele Di Gregorio unable to keep it out despite getting a hand to the ball.
With 20 minutes of normal time remaining Musah, a 54th-minute substitute, sent in the cross that Juventus defender Federico Gatti deflected past his own goalkeeper.
Two more Americans were involved for Juventus, with midfielder Weston McKennie, who started at left-back and was booked, replaced by Tim Weah as a substitute on 86 minutes.
The match was a first in charge for new Milan head coach Sergio Conceicao after he was appointed to replace Paulo Fonseca earlier this week.
Milan will now face city rivals Inter in Monday’s final after Simone Inzaghi’s side defeated Atalanta, the Serie A leaders, in the first semi-final on Thursday.
Pulisic has made 21 appearances in all competitions for Milan this season, scoring nine goals and providing six assists.
Capped 76 times by the USMNT, he has registered two goals and two assists in three appearances under new head coach Mauricio Pochettino.
GO DEEPER
Will AC Milan’s hiring of Conceicao affect Christian Pulisic?
(Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images)
[ad_2]
Source link