Milan is a force to be reckoned with this season. After a poor start to Serie A, the Rossoneri are increasingly finding their feet, delivering their best performance of the season so far and deservedly beating a hapless Udinese 3-0.
Udinese Calcio started the new Serie A season with seven points from three games. However, Kosta Runjaic’s team had nothing to say in their home game against Milan. Their own weak defense and the willing offensive forces of the visitors from Lombardy proved to be a dangerous combination that the home team had no answer to.
Above all, they had no answer for the extremely enthusiastic Pulisic, who was by far the best player on the field and outplayed or outran his opponents one after another.
Pulisic opens, sets up and finishes
This was also the case with the 1-0 goal in the 39th minute, when the American was in the right place after Estupinan’s cross was parried and got to the ball from close range in front of the Udinese defense and coolly slotted it home. Goalkeeper Sava had already made several saves before that, keeping the score at 0-0 for a long time.
However, Milan did not appear impatient, they simply continued to play well. After the restart, Milan, who allowed very little defensively and could rely on substitute goalkeeper Terracciano when they did, finally made short work of the Friulians. Right in the middle of it all: Pulisic, of course.
He first cleanly stole the ball from Karlström in the opponent’s penalty area, allowing Fofana to get in and score the 2-0 (46′). A little later, the former Dortmund player sealed the deal with a seemingly saveable shot from a turn (53′) – and finally cemented his status as the man of the evening.
Saelemaekers (80′) and new signing Rabiot (90’+2) missed chances to make it 4-0, but in between, the game was largely in administration mode.
Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri, who had to watch the game from the stands due to his red card in the recent 1-0 win over Bologna, was thus able to record his third consecutive victory after a poor start to the season. Apart from the fact that the Rossoneri are not competing internationally this season and can therefore better manage their resources, the traditional club is slowly establishing itself in the middle of the Serie A table. Next up is the top-of-the-table clash against champions Napoli (Sunday, 8:45 p.m.) – a real test. Meanwhile, Udinese lost for the first time and will be away to Sassuolo Calcio, who are back in the top flight, on the same day (12:30 p.m.).
