Christian Pulisic needed only three minutes to open his account in the 2024-25 UEFA Champions League.
Pulisic handed AC Milan an early lead against Liverpool at the San Siro before the Reds battled back for a 3-1 victory. It marked the seventh UCL campaign in which Pulisic has found the back of the net.
With AC Milan garnering early pressure, Pulisic sent the home fans into a frenzy after three minutes. Pulisic raced into the Liverpool box before drilling a low right-footed shot into the bottom-left corner for a 1-0 lead.
It marked his third goal for the Rossoneri across all competitions this summer.
However, Liverpool would fight back before halftime as both center backs got on the scoresheet. Ibrahim Konate headed home Trent Alexander-Arnold’s cross in the 23rd minute for a 1-1 equalizer before Virgil Van Dijk propelled the Reds in front four minutes before halftime.
Dominik Szoboszlai extended further insult to injury to AC Milan by giving Liverpool a 3-1 lead.
Pulisic finished as one of AC Milan’s few bright spots in the match, winning three duels, completing one tackle, and one dribble attempt. Fellow USMNT teammate Yunus Musah did not feature off the bench.
AC Milan continues Serie A play on Sunday against rivals Inter while Liverpool hosts Bournemouth on Saturday in Premier League action.
The vast majority of goals scored are the result of some sort of defensive breakdown.
If you were a striker and the only goals you scored in your entire career came off of defensive breakdowns, you’d probably be doing okay.
Pulisic and Mckennie score, Ledezma and Tillman start, Weah and Pepi on as subs. All in one day of Champions league, that has to be some kind of record for American players.
Nice goal by Pulisic and doing what he does best, driving at defenders and then getting off a good shot.
Gary,
Hardly a nice goal by Pulisic. More so…neh. To say he drove at defenders is an interesting narrative. More a product of bad defense by Liverpool / Konate.
Come on man! The timing and placement of the shot was skilled. Super cool l, in control, and composed with the ball.
If anything the shot surprised the goalie and he did not cover his far post
Seriously? He started the break in his own half, played a 1-2, drove all the way from half-field, surveyed his options, then fired a missile between 2 defenders and the keeper just inside the far post. He had a LOT to do. If you want to tell me McKennie’s goal was lucky because the ball fell right to his right foot inside 10 yards, then ok. But your take on Pulisic’s goal is way off.
Twomilerule,
Not even close, bud.
Chalk it up to bad anticipation from Tsimikas, late reaction from van Dijk, and Konate.
Are you saying Liverpool showed a good defensive stand on that play and that Puli sliced them up?
The vast majority of goals scored are the result of some sort of defensive breakdown.
If you were a striker and the only goals you scored in your entire career came off of defensive breakdowns, you’d probably be doing okay.
Brother, it wasn’t goal of the week, but that was a really nice goal. Almost all goals follow imperfect defense. But the odds of mistakes goes up with offensive players skill, technique, athleticism. Like this, a forced error as a result of speed and aggression which was then followed by a very nice finish. It’s exactly why it pays to go after the defenses rather than passively passing sideways back and forth hoping for an opening- it greatly increases the odds of a mistake. It’s also a result of aggression/runs, dribbling by players in previous plays which will make defenders to fall back as they don’t want you to blow by.
JB,
What clip / goal are you watching? Started the break in his own half?..huh? Played a 1-2?…wth??
Liverpool were pressing high, Tsimikas reacts WAY too late to a cross field pass from the keeper, and Calabria wins the header.
Again, interesting narrative from you on this goal.
Go back and READ my reply to Gary. His narrative mentioned driving at defenders. What defenders? Again, Liverpool were high pressing and one of their players got caught napping. Then, the only defender, Konate, did nothing.
This is an average goal, at best, and more a result of really bad defending from Liverpool vs a great goal from Pulisic were he was driving at defenders and slicing them up.
#Recognize
You have your take(an arguably lazy one bc you giving excuses to defenders and the GK that don’t matter), and others have their opinion. You say the defenders got caught napping and that the GK took a bad angle, ok so what, is that Pulisic’s problem? He’s paid to score goals no matter the circumstance of what the defense is doing, and that you chose the focus on the defense shows you’re here to make it about your narrative
RonnieT,
I said nothing about the GK taking a bad angle
Pssst…RonnieT needs reading comprehension lessons…pass it on.
Nor is it about my narrative, just facts and breaking down the video.