Hellas Verona 1-3 AC Milan: Christian Pulisic on target as Rossoneri win to tighten hold on second in Serie A
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Updated 17/03/2024 at 16:36 GMT
AC Milan huffed and puffed for large spells of the first half of their trip to Verona in Serie A. But they were given a huge boost shortly before the half-time interval when Theo Hernandez barrelled his way into the box and took advantage of a ricochet to fire his side in front. The title may be beyond them, but they wrapped up the win to reinforce their hold on second place.
Christian Pulisic celebrates after scoring during the Serie A match between Hellas Verona and AC Milan at Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi on March 17, 2024 in Verona, Italy
Image credit: Getty Images
Samuel Chukwueze's first goal for AC Milan ensured them victory at Verona and consolidated second place in Serie A ahead of Juventus.
Milan dominated the first half and could have been further ahead than a solitary goal, which came from Theo Hernandez, with Christian Pulisic rattling the crossbar.
Five minutes after the break, Pulisic was on hand to tap home after Noah Okafor raced through and saw his effort parried by Lorenzo Montipo.
The result did not look in doubt at all until, from nowhere, Tijjani Noslin rocketed home a half-volley from 25 yards to give Verona hope.
But Chukwueze's similar effort, although not quite struck with the same ferocity, restored the Rossoneri's two-goal advantage.
Milan now sit three points clear of third-place Juventus who drew with Genoa earlier, while Verona are just two points ahead of third-bottom Frosinone.
Talking Point - Noslin the man to ensure Verona's safety
Tijjani Noslin appears somewhat of a late bloomer, only moving to Fortuna Sittard in the Eredivise at the age of 22, but now three years on looks a handful for any defence. He sealed a move to Serie A from the Netherlands in January and has made a mark scoring against Juventus and now Milan.
Capable of playing upfront or on the flank, he showed in the first half his capability, leaving Pierre Kalulu in his wake before firing just wide of Mike Maignan's goal. If he was in any doubt he belonged in Serie A before, his blistering second-half strike, surely as sweetly hit as any in Italy this season, will assure him of this.
With Verona embroiled in a relegation scrap, largely due to their third-lowest scoring tally, they need someone to step up and score crucial goals in the remaining eight matches and Noslin looks well capable of being that man.
Player of the Match - Christian Pulisic (Milan)
Christian Pulisic scored one and could have had a few more and was at the hub of Milan's creative play. With 11, he has now scored as many goals as he has managed in any season - his first year at Chelsea four years ago.
He has always looked a threat with the ball at his feet capable of finding players in attacking positions, but now he seems to be a danger making runs without the ball for his teammates to find as well. His visible disappointment when he came off, with the game still on the line, in a way showed his belief that he can finally reach his potential as a big club's talisman.
Player Ratings
Verona: Montipo 6; Centonze 6, Coppola 6, Dawidowicz 6, Cabal 6; Duda 5, Serdar 6; Folorunsho 6, Suslov 6, Lazovic 6; Noslin 8.
Subs: Silva 6, Mitrovic 6, Swiderski 7, Magnani 6, Vinagre 6.
Milan: Maignan 6; Calabria 6, Kalulu 6, Tomori 6, Theo Hernandez 7; Bennacer 7, Reijnders 6, Loftus-Cheek 6; Pulisic 8*, Rafael Leao 7, Okafor 6.
Subs: Gabbia 6, Giroud 6, Musah 6, Chukwueze 7.
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Theo Hernandez celebrates after scoring for AC Milan
Image credit: Getty Images
Match Highlights
19' OKAFOR DENIED BY FINE SAVE The Swiss winger caught a ball on the volley sweetly and looked headed for just under the crossbar but Montipo tipped over the bar.
23' PULISIC FIRES AGAINST THE CROSSBAR A nice dummy from Loftus-Cheek let the ball run through to the American inside the right hand side of the penalty area but the former Chelsea man blasted against the crossbar.
44' GOAL! VERONA 0-1 MILAN (HERNANDEZ) He made a typical run down the byline latching onto Leao's ball and then when his pull-back ewas blocked he reacted quickest to flick the ball over the keeper.
50' GOAL! VERONA 0-2 MILAN (PULISIC) Okafor robs Dawidowicz and then races towards goal shooting towards the far post and although Montipo pushes away Pulisic sidefoots home.
64' GOAL! VERONA (NOSLIN) 1-2 MILAN An incredible strike from the Dutch striker. He controlled a bouncing ball on the edge of the box, nudged it past Loftus-Cheek and then rifled a ball which was still rising when it hit the back of the net.
71'HE DID EVERYTHING RIGHT EXCEPT SCORE Played in behind the left back, he pushed the ball towards the centre of the area and then as he guided the ball wide of the keeper everyone expected the net to bulge but the effort flew wide.
79' GOAL! VERONA 1-3 MILAN (CHUKWUEZE) A fine left-footed volley from Chukwueze leaves Montipo with no chance after Bennacer's corner was cleared to the edge of the area.
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