In a dramatic Serie A encounter that saw a penalty miss, a red card, and a late goal from a veteran superstar, AC Milan snatched a crucial 2-1 victory over relegation-threatened Pisa to solidify their position in the league standings.
The match at the Arena Garibaldi started slowly, with both teams struggling to find rhythm. The first real chance of the game fell to the hosts, Pisa. On the half-hour mark, only a spectacular block from Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan prevented Filip Stojilkovic from giving the underdogs a shock lead.
That near miss jolted the Rossoneri into action. Milan broke the deadlock in the 39th minute when Zachary Athekame delivered a superb cross from the right flank. Unmarked in the box, Ruben Loftus-Cheek rose highest to power a header past the goalkeeper, giving the visitors a deserved lead heading into halftime.
The second half erupted into life immediately. Just two minutes after the restart, Adrien Rabiot found the back of the net, but celebrations were cut short. The goal was disallowed for a handball by Niclas Füllkrug in the buildup. Milan continued to press and were soon awarded a golden opportunity to double their lead. Felipe Loyola was adjudged to have tripped Strahinja Pavlović inside the box, resulting in a penalty. However, Füllkrug's misery continued as his spot-kick struck the post and bounced clear.
Against the run of play, Pisa stunned the visitors in the 71st minute. At 15 yards out, Loyola—the same player who conceded the penalty—curled a beautiful shot into the bottom corner to level the score and set up a tense finish.
Milan threw everything forward in search of a winner. They came agonizingly close when Füllkrug, looking for redemption, saw his close-range effort deflect narrowly wide after a setup from Samuele Ricci. With time running out and a frustrating draw looming, the team's timeless maestro took charge.
In the 88th minute, Luka Modrić produced a moment of magic. The 39-year-old collected the ball in the box and placed a clever, composed finish past goalkeeper NÃcolas to snatch the lead back for Milan. The drama didn't end there; Rabiot was sent off in stoppage time after receiving two quick yellow cards. Despite being down to ten men, Milan held on to secure all three points.
The victory keeps AC Milan second in the Serie A table, maintaining a four-point cushion over third-placed Napoli. For Pisa, the result extends their miserable winless streak to 14 matches, leaving them six points adrift of the safety zone.
#ACMilan #LukaModric #SerieA #PisaMilan #FootballNews #Rossoneri #LateWinner #SoccerHighlight