AC Milan staged a dramatic late comeback to beat Udinese 3-2 despite Christian Pulisic having a quiet game in a match marred by alleged racial abuse.
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Milan come from 2-1 down to win Rossoneri close gap to leaders InterMaignan reports racist abuseGettyWHAT HAPPENED?
Milan ended Udinese's recent strangehold over them with an action-packed victory at Stadio Friuli on Saturday night. The Black and Whites had won their last two games against Milan in Serie A but fell behind in the 31st minute through Ruben Loftus-Cheek's calm finish. The game was stopped for more than five minutes after Rossoneri goalkeeper Mike Maignan complained of racist abuse from Udinese's fans, before Lazar Samardzic fired in an equaliser in the 42nd minute after the restart. Florian Thauvin put the hosts ahead as his shot went through Maignan but substitute Luka Jovic looked to have rescued his side a point with a header from point-blank range. The rejuvenated visitors then broke the home team's hearts as fellow sub Noah Okafor scored deep into second half stoppage time to secure an unlikely victory, with Christian Pulisic having been subbed off for the duo. The result means Milan stay third, six points behind leaders Inter.
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Milan looked dead and buried with 15 minutes remaining but they kept fighting and secured all three points thanks to their super subs Jovic and Okafor. This was their fourth win in five Serie A matches and keeps them in the title hunt. However, they will have to improve their performances if they want to pick up silverware as they stopped playing for much of the contest and that nearly cost them.
Getty ImagesUSMNT IMPACT
For one of Milan's best players this season, Pulisic was somewhat anonymous at times against Udinese. In the first half, the former Chelsea man led the way for most duels won (five) and most tackles completed (two) which showed he wasn't having much impact in an attacking sense. Crucially, Jovic replaced him in the second half and had a telling impact after getting on the scoresheet; it was just one of those days for the 25-year-old. Yunus Musah, on the other hand, was brought on with two minutes remaining, highlighting that he is on the fringes of the squad.
GettyGOAL'S RATINGS
Christian Pulisic – 6
Fairly ineffective in an attacking sense but put in the hard yards defensively. Didn't do much wrong but perhaps needs to stamp his authority more in a game when others are underwhelming. That his substitution came before the late comeback doesn't exactly reflect well on him.
Yunus Musah – N/A
Had no time to get involved as his team just about won.