Christian Pulisic, the United States soccer standout, scored twice as AC Milan defeated Cagliari 5-1 in Serie A on Saturday. In a unique display of family heritage, Pulisic and his teammates wore jerseys bearing their maternal surnames, an initiative spearheaded by Milan. Pulisic's jersey bore the name "Harlow," honoring his mother.
Christian Pulisic, the United States soccer star, has added another stellar performance to his resume, scoring twice in AC Milan's 5-1 victory over Cagliari in Serie A. The match was not only significant for Pulisic's goals but also for the jerseys worn by the players, which featured their maternal surnames. Pulisic's jersey bore the name "Harlow," honoring his mother's lineage. This initiative, proposed by Milan and adopted by five other Serie A clubs, aimed to celebrate family heritage and promote diversity and inclusion in the sport.
The victory snapped a six-match winless streak for Milan and kept them firmly in second place in the Serie A standings, seven points clear of third-placed Bologna. Cagliari, on the other hand, remained three points above the relegation zone but will need to fight hard to maintain their Serie A status. The match began with a cagey opening period, with both teams probing for weaknesses. However, Milan's breakthrough came in the 80th minute when Ismael Bennacer found himself unmarked in the area and volleyed home the opening goal.
Milan doubled their lead nine minutes later through Pulisic, who was expertly set up by Rafael Leao. Nahitan Nández pulled one back for Cagliari four minutes later, but Tijani Reijnders restored Milan's two-goal advantage with a stunning 30-yard strike in the 74th minute. Cagliari came close to reducing the deficit again but were unlucky not to see the ball cross the line on two occasions. Eldor Shomurodov's header rebounded off the post, and Gaetano Oristanio's corner kick hit the woodwork before being cleared.
Milan sealed the victory with two late goals from Leao and Pulisic, who completed his brace in the dying moments of the game. The American international's second goal was initially ruled offside but was overturned by VAR, much to the delight of the Milan faithful. Pulisic's performance was a reminder of his exceptional talent and his growing importance to Milan's title challenge.
The United States forward has been in impressive form for Milan this season, scoring four goals and providing two assists in his last six appearances. His goals against Cagliari were his first in Serie A since December, and they will provide a much-needed boost to his confidence as Milan prepare for a crucial period in their season. With a tough run of fixtures coming up, Milan will need Pulisic to continue his goalscoring form if they want to challenge for the Scudetto.
