A late goal from Christian Pulisic gave AC Milan a 1-0 win at newly promoted Genoa that took them to the top of Serie A on Saturday. But the game ended in chaos as both goalkeepers were sent off and striker Olivier Giroud fired home for the visitors.
US star Pulisic netted with a half-volley from near the penalty spot in the 87th minute after being brilliantly set up by USMNT teammate Yunus Musah to give Milan the lead.
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The goal was Pulisic’s fourth in Serie A for Milan since his move from Chelsea in the summer.
But the three points hung in the balance as the game took a chaotic turn when Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan was shown red late in stoppage time for a foul on Caleb Ekuban and Giroud took his place in goal.
Luckily for the Frenchman, Genoa’s Albert Gudmundsson crashed a free-kick from the edge of the box against the crossbar and Giroud made a brilliant save from George Puscas just before the final whistle.
Christian Pulisic celebrates AC Milan’s winning goal against Genoa with Olivier Giroud.
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“I like to think that what Giroud did is part of our mentality,” Milan coach Stefano Pioli told DAZN.
“Pulisic wanted to score and maybe he had already done so, but I told him he was too small.”
“We’ve been lucky in the last few episodes, but it’s part of the mentality of a group that wants to do their best and that makes me happy.”
Milan, which won its seventh win in eight games, is two points clear at the top of the table after rivals Inter Milan squandered an early two-goal lead to draw 2-2 at home to Bologna on Saturday.
Milan have been struggling with injuries and coach Stefano Pioli made six changes to the starting lineup that beat Lazio 2-0 last weekend, with midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek joining Rade Krunic and Ismaël Bennacer on the sidelines.
Genoa, who beat AS Roma 4-1 in September and held champions Napoli to a 2-2 draw, managed to stay level in a balanced first half before Pioli brought on Rafael Leão and Pulisic after half-time as he tried to break the deadlock.
Genoa goalkeeper Josep Martínez made a great save in the 65th minute to save Leao’s header, which bounced off the ground, for a corner.
Martinez also received a red card in the final minutes as the Spaniard picked up his second yellow card.
Milan will be without Maignan and defender Theo Hernández, who picked up his fifth yellow card, for their next Serie A game after the international break.