An inspired performance of Christian Pulisic helped 10-man AC Milan a tense 2-1 victory over Napoli on the San Siro on Sunday, a result that sends them to the top of the Serie A-classification on goal difference.
Pulisic scored one goal and created another for Alexis Saelemaekers to give Milan an impressive rest party. A red card for defender Pervis Estupiñán and a converted penalty from Kevin De Bruyne, however, has set up a dramatic last 30 minutes, with Milan ultimately getting the first defeat of Napoli’s season.
The victory moves Milan with Napoli and AS Roma on 12 points and claims first place with the narrowest margins.
“There will be other games like these suffering,” Milan manager Massimiliano Allegri told Dazn. “But they play with this spirit, it will be easier to bring them home.”
Milan only took the initiative for three minutes in the game. Pulisic started a sizzling run of his own half and avoids a challenge before he delivers a perfect cross for Saelemaekers to tap the rear post.
The hosts doubled their advantage in the 31st minute due to a quick counterattack. A moving run by Strahinja Pavlović and an agile film by Youssouf Fofana saved Pulisic, whose bent strike wrong footman Alex Meret and the back of the net found.
The complexion of the game changed dramatically around the hour when Estupiñán was sent for an error on Giovanni di Lorenzo in the penalty area. De Bruyne stepped up and converted calmly the resulting spot kick to give Napoli a lifeline.
Although he was a man, Milan resolutely defended to resist a late barrage of the visitors. Napoli came painfully close to an equalizer in a stop time when a shot by David Neres cut the outside of the post before Milan keeper Mike Maignan produced an excellent rescue to deny Neres a little later.
Napoli, forced to establish an improvised defense due to an injury crisis, was left to regret their slow start.
“It’s a shame that we immediately admitted a goal. Starting here in San Siro is immediately difficult,” Napoli coach Antonio Conte told Dazn.
The victory marks the fourth consecutive league victory of Milan while continuing their strong start of the domestic campaign.
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