Milan’s personnel shortage gave Yunus Musah one final run in the Rossoneri starting lineup before departing for Atalanta 72 hours later, however Christian Pulisic’s goal from the bench was the weekend’s highlight for Americans in Italy.
Lecce 0 – 2 AC Milan
With unfortunate injuries to one of the team’s key midfield acquisitions as well as winger Raphael Leao, Milan head coach Massimiliano Allegri handed Yunus Musah a start in what would be his final appearance for the team before going out on loan, with late substitute Christian Pulisic helping to seal the win over Lecce on Friday evening.
After being unused in Milan’s season-opening loss to Cremonese, Musah acquitted himself nicely against Lecce, completing 85% of his 40 passing attempts, while setting up a pair of chances, winning his only tackle as well as half of his 10 duels, and drawing a pair of fouls.
The hosts seemed off to a quick start after Matteo Gabbia headed in a corner from six yards in the fourth minute, but the goal was called off due to a foul by the goalscorer on the play, following a VAR intervention.
Musah nearly assisted on an opener in the 36th when he popped up a long cross from Santiago Gimenez just beyond the right post, however Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s header was spectacularly saved at point-blank rage by keeper Wladimiro Falcone.
Milan had another seeming opener called back at the hour, this time with Gimenez being found offside after a VAR decision, however Loftus-Cheek’s header in the 66th from a deep free kick delivery by Luca Modric into the crowded six-yard box did stand, to give the visitors the 1-0 lead.
Initially rested for what was reported to be a minor ankle issue, Pulisic was called into action with 14 minutes remaining in regulation, and added the insurance goal for Milan by opportunistically dispossessing Lecce defender Danilo Veiga and beating Falcone in the one-on-one with a shot to the lower near post.
Pulisic will spend the international break stateside on USMNT duty before returning to Milan for their home game on Sept. 14 against Bologna. Musah’s loan to Atalanta was officially confirmed on Monday evening, meaning that he will face Lecce twice in a row, as Atalanta hosts the winless team in Bergamo, also on Sept. 14.
Juve Stabia 0 – 0 Venezia
Gianluca Busio and Venezia passed a major test of their fortitude on Saturday evening, overcoming a first-half red card against Juve Stabia in Serie B action, and withstanding their hosts’ onslaught to earn a valuable point on the road.
Busio and his teammates were given a tough ask when forward John Yeboa seemingly headbutted a Juve Stabia player in the chest near the midfield as the opposing keeper prepared to boot the ball downfield. While the referee’s attentions were on the point of action, the VAR officials did pick it up leading to a straight red for the Venezia player.
This left the visitors on the back foot for the remainder of the game, during which they were forced to withstand 17 shots by their hosts, four of which were on-target, but all of which were saved by keeper and man-of-the-match Filip Stankovic.
Busio did well to help keep the midfield organized, and did take one of Venezia’s three total shots in the game, a 52nd-minute attempt that missed the goal.
The 0-0 result gives the Winged Lions four points and a share of the eight-way tie for first place. They return to Serie B action with a visit to Pescara on September 13, although will face Rapid Wien in a friendly during the international break.
Highlights of the game can be seen here.
Cesena 1 – 1 Virtus Entella
Jonathan Klinsmann earned the start in Cesena’s goal before his departure to the US for international duty, having a fairly quiet game in their 1-1 draw at home against Virtus Estella.
The action was saved for the final minutes, with Cristian Shpendi converting from the spot in the 81st minute after VAR confirmed that Ivan Marconi fouled Massimiliano Mangraviti on a Cesena corner, then Andrea Franzoni equalizing for Estella in injury time with the team’s only shot on goal of the game.
Klinsmann will join the rest of the USMNT for the upcoming friendly games against South Korea and Japan, and will be back in action with Cesena on Sept. 13 with a visit to Sampdoria.
Highlights of the game can be seen here.
Notes
Weston McKennie once again only saw garbage-time minutes for Juventus, this time playing the final moments in their 1-0 road win over Genoa on Sunday.
Andrea Novakovich played the final 10 minutes of Regina’s 3-1 win over nine-man Empoli on Friday evening, however only had six touches and didn’t take any shots while on the field.
