Lecce 2-3 Milan: Pulisic's brace leads Rossoneri to a stunning comeback

AC Milan came from two goals down to win 3-2 at lowly Lecce in Serie A on Saturday, with Christian Pulisic flipping the game on its head for the visitors.

Match Report

It looked like the pressure would be piling on Sergio Conceicao once again, but their late turnaround ensured they secured a 1,500th Serie A win instead.

With the pitch still covered by smoke after the fans welcomed the teams with flares, Milan thought they had taken the lead 47 seconds in when Santiago Gimenez struck with his first touch from a Theo Hernandez pass. However, it was chalked off for offside.

The early scare did not intimidate the home side, who took a shock lead in the seventh minute with a beautiful Nikola Krstovic strike inside the right post.

Milan saw another goal ruled out for offside when Matteo Gabbia netted from close range after a Hernandez free-kick, while Lecce almost doubled their advantage shortly after, Krstovic hitting the post 21 minutes in.

The Montenegro striker finally doubled the lead after the restart, scoring with a first-time effort into the bottom-left corner, though their good fortune soon started to decline. 

Half-time substitute Rafael Leao squared a lovely pass to Joao Felix from the left and the Portuguese forward struck from close range before the ball ricocheted off Antonio Gallo and sailed into the net.

Milan were then awarded a penalty for a foul on Pulisic by Federico Baschirotto, which the United States international converted confidently in the 73rd minute to equalise.

Clearly fired up, he then put Milan in front from point-blank range following another great cross by Leao with nine minutes remaining.

Data Debrief: Pulisic to the rescue

Milan have been struggling in Serie A of late, but earned their first win since February 15 (1-0 v Verona), while it was the first time in a month that they have recorded a victory on the road.

It is the second time Milan have come from at least two goals down to beat Lecce in Serie A, with both coming at the Via del Mare. They previously came from 3-0 down to win 4-3 in October 2011).

And it was Pulisic who paved the way. Since his first season in Serie A (2023-24), Pulisic has been involved in the most goals in the tournament for Milan (34 – 20 goals and 14 assists). Lecce is also the team against which he has scored the most goals in the competition (four).

It was just the second time he has netted a brace in the Italian top-flight, and his first on the road.

Match Events

0' The match is about to start!

1' Match Event for Lecce vs Milan

6' Highlight from Lecce vs Milan

7' GOAL! Lecce 1-0 Milan (Nikola Krstović)

12' Match Event for Lecce vs Milan

17' Match Event for Lecce vs Milan

21' Match Event for Lecce vs Milan

29' Highlight from Lecce vs Milan

34' Highlight from Lecce vs Milan

39' Match Event for Lecce vs Milan

42' Match Event for Lecce vs Milan

53' Match Event for Lecce vs Milan

55' Highlight from Lecce vs Milan

59' GOAL! Lecce 2-0 Milan (Nikola Krstović)

62' Highlight from Lecce vs Milan

69' OWN GOAL! Lecce 2-1 Milan (Antonino Gallo)

73' Penalty Goal! Lecce 2-2 Milan (Christian Pulisic)

80' Highlight from Lecce vs Milan

81' GOAL! Lecce 2-3 Milan (Pulisic)

Line-ups

Lecce XI: Guilbert, Wladimiro Falcone, Tete Morente, Federico Baschirotto, Coulibaly, Krstovic, Thórir Jóhann Helgason, Antonino Gallo, Gaby Jean, Santiago Pierotti, Medon Berisha

Subs: Rebic, Ylber Ramadani, Jesper Karlsson, Hamza Rafia, Fruchtl, Marco Sala, Lameck Banda, Konan N’Dri, Balthazar Pierret, Rareș Burnete, Jasper Samooja, Danilo Veiga, Mohamed Kaba, Kialonda Gaspar, Tiago Gabriel

Milan XI: Walker, Sportiello, Theo, Pulisic, Gabbia, Santiago Gimenez, Reijnders, Yunus Musah, Malick Thiaw, Warren Bondo, Jimenez

Subs: Florenzi, Jovic, Tomori, Abraham, Chukwueze, Felix, Sottil, Leao, Youssouf Fofana, Terracciano, Lapo Nava, Davide Bartesaghi, Torriani