Christian Pulisic notched another goal for AC Milan to help them smash Torino, in a game that also saw Yunus Musah make his debut for the team, while Tim Weah and Weston McKennie once again tag-teamed in Juve’s home draw.
AC Milan 4 – 1 Torino
Christian Pulisic continued his scintillating start to his Serie A adventure, scoring AC Milan’s opening goal in the San Siro on Saturday night to begin their romp over mostly toothless Torino.
For the second straight game, the USMNT star played the full 90 minutes, teaming up well with fellow front-line mates Oliver Giroud and Rafael Leao, as well as former Chelsea teammate Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
All in all, he touched the ball 38 times, completed all but one of his 26 passing attempts, took three shots, two of which were on-target, set up an additional chance, won four of seven duels and drew three fouls.
The opening goal came three minutes past the half-hour, on a break following a Torino turnover near the midfield. Pulisic advanced the ball up the middle before sending it over to Loftus-Cheek in full stride to his right.
The forgotten English international drew the crowd of defenders in his direction with his continued run, before firing a low cross from the endline back to Pulisic on the left, who was all alone at the edge of the six-yard box for a one-touch finish to the lower left corner.
That was his second goal in as many games, doubling his output for the entire previous season in London.
Three minutes later, Torino did craft an equalizer seemingly out of nowhere; a potentially scuffed long-range attempt by Samuele Ricci took a perfect bouncing trajectory to Perr Schuurs, who struck an off-balance shot on the turn to beat Milan keeper Mike Maignan at the left post.
Their hope was short-lived, however, after a flick by Giroud barely grazed the hand of Alessandro Buongiorno barely three minutes later, in a play so subtle that not even the nearby Rossoneri protested.
The VAR crew, however made their case to referee Maurizio Mariani, who pointed to the spot, allowing the Frenchman to restore the hosts’ lead with an imperious, if not dismissive shot to the right side.
Then in the second minutes of added time, Giroud’s international teammate Theo Hernández added the gut-punch for the visitors, playing a nice combo with Leao on the left before lifting his tight-angled shot past the keeper for the 3-1 halftime advantage.
The VAR crew then confirmed a second penalty in the hosts’ favor just past the hour, this time as Schuurs stepped on Leao’s foot near the endline as he attempted to cross. With little room for protest form the Torino squad this time around, Giroud completed his brace by looping his spot kick to the upper left.
Yunus Musah entered the fray moments after Milan’s fourth goal, replacing Loftus-Cheek as a part of a triple-switch.
While Milan were happy to ride out their three-goal lead from that point onward, the new arrival did well in his debut, misplacing only one of his ten passing attempts, creating one chance, and embarking on a late attacking run covering half of the field that will leave head coach Stefano Pioli eager for a follow-up.
The victory leaves Milan with a perfect six points from their first two games, and looking ahead to Friday’s showdown with Roma.
Juventus 1 – 1 Bologna
Tim Weah and Weston McKennie both saw action in Juve’s disappointing draw against Bologna on Sunday night, once again repeating the same tag-team role as last weekend, albeit with significantly fewer minutes for the latter this time around.
As in the previous game, Weah lined up in the wide role in the right side, having a solid 82 minutes before making way for his fellow USMNT starter. He took a pair of shots and set up two more, completed 79% of his 47 passes amidst 62 touches, drew one foul, won his only tackle, made a pair of clearances and won four out of five duels.
Despite Juve’s early dominance, Lewis Ferguson struck first for the hosts, finishing off a slick display of one-touch passing by his teammates with a scrappy, low shot to the lower left of Mattia Perin’s goal as he fought off a pair defenders.
Dusan Vlahovic looked to have equalized six minutes after the break with a sweeping kick to put away Bremer’s header, but the goal was called back for offside.
The USMNT attacker forced Bologna keeper Lukasz Skorupski into a one-handed save in the 56th minute with a looping volley from close to 30 yards out, a shot that would have been a season highlight had it found its way into goal.
The Serbian international did eventually net his second goal of the season with nine minutes left on the clock, earning the point for the hosts by heading in Samuel Iling-Junior’s long cross from the left flank from the penalty spot.
After a generally strong performance, Weah made way for McKennie shortly after the equalizer. The Texan was heavily involved as the Bianconeri pushed for a winner, making 14 touches, beating the opposition on two of his three attempted dribbles, winning three out of four duels, and winning his only tackle.
However, the score held, awarding a point to each team, a result which will leave the hosts far more disappointed than their opponents. Weah, McKennie and their teammates will be back in action on Sunday with a visit to Empoli.
Venezia 1 – 1 Cosenza
Tanner Tessmann and Gianluca Busio both earned starts for Venezia on Saturday, as they followed their season-opening win with a less spectacular come-from-behind draw at home against Cosenza.
Tessmann anchored the central midfield for the hosts for the full 90 minutes, while Busio was positioned just to his right, and played 72 before making way for Christian Gytkjær in the final stretch.
While neither of the two was involved in Venezia’s lone goal, they did their best to keep the pressure on, with each amassing three shots, and Tessmann setting up another three chances.
Not long after a penalty for the hosts was called off after a VAR review, Idriz Voca gave Cosenza the lead with seven minutes left in the half, receiving Simone Mazzocchi’s short pass from the right and targeting the upper left corner for the go-ahead goal.
Nicholas Pierini earned the point for the hosts shortly into the second half, taking a pass from Antonio Candela on the right edge of the area, weaving towards the middle and unleashing a low shot that left the Cosenza keeper no chance.
Venezia are back on the field on Wednesday, visiting Sampdoria in midweek action.
Notes
Andrija Novakovich is still a week away from his likely debut with Lecco in Serie B, as the team awaits formal confirmation of their ability to compete in the division in the upcoming season. If all goes to plan, they will take the field on Saturday when they host Catanzaro.
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