Serie A | Udinese 0-3 Milan: Pulisic inspiration for Rossoneri

Christian Pulisic made a commanding return to the Milan starting XI, scoring twice and creating a third for Youssouf Fofana in the 3-0 victory away to Udinese.

The Rossoneri saw coach Max Allegri sit out a touchline ban, with Mike Maignan, Rafael Leao and Ardon Jashari injured, but Strahinja Pavlovic and Pulisic shook off knocks. The Friulani were still unbeaten after a home draw with Verona, then away victories over Inter and Pisa. Sandi Lovric was out of action, with Maduka Okoye continuing his ban for betting irregularities, and they moved to a four-man defence.

See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.

Pulisic immediately stung Zanos Sava’s gloves at the near post after a give and go with Adrien Rabiot, then the goalkeeper stood tall to deny Santiago Gimenez one-on-one when he was sent clear by Pervis Estupinan.

The deadlock was eventually broken when Pulisic pounced on a poor Kingsley Ehizibue clearance to send Estupinan down the left, the roll across was intercepted by Thomas Kristensen to risk an own goal, and Pulisic was again alert to turn in the rebound from Sava’s desperate save.

Milan doubled their lead straight after the restart in bizarre fashion, as Pulisic’s pressure on Jesper Karlstrom in the penalty area paid off, giving it away for Youssouf Fofana to beat Sava one on one.

Pulisic was involved again by scoring the third goal, as he gathered the Adrien Rabiot disguised pass down the right and smashed the finish through Oumar Solet’s legs to surprise Sava at the near post.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek came on and immediately nodded an Alexis Saelemaekers cross over the bar, while Nicolò Zaniolo and Arthur Atta had goes from distance, failing to trouble Pietro Terracciano.

Saelemaekers tested Sava after a Rabiot effort was deflected into his path, while Solet drilled wide on the counter-attack, as did Estupinan when a corner was cleared. Rabiot also flashed a ball across the face of goal to skim the far post on an Estupinan assist in stoppages.

The power of 3 reflected this result, as it was Milan’s third consecutive Serie A win, third straight clean sheet, and third year running they got three points in Udine.

Udinese 0-3 Milan

Pulisic 40, 53 (M), Fofana 46 (M)