MILAN (AP) — Christian Pulisic made waves once more as he helped guide AC Milan to another thrilling comeback victory, this time against Como with a score of 2-1 on Saturday, March 15, 2025. The American forward scored the equalizer before Tijjani Reijnders netted the winning goal, ensuring Milan's quest for higher league standings continues.
Pulisic's impressive performance came after he scored twice last week, aiding Milan to snap their three-match losing streak with a 3-2 triumph over Lecce. This latest goal marks his third scoring effort across two matches, now totaling nine goals for the season's Serie A campaign, along with 15 from all competitions. With these goals under his belt, Pulisic has matched his tally from his inaugural season at the club.
Como momentarily held the lead when Lucas Da Cunha fired them ahead with a slick shot from distance, securing the opening goal of the match at the 33rd minute. Just seconds after the halftime whistle, Milan fans, who left the stadium less than satisfied at the break, faced the possibility of falling behind even more when Da Cunha struck again. Fortunately for Milan, this goal was disallowed due to offside, allowing the home team to reset.
Shortly after the restart, Milan leveled the score. A neat combination between Rafael Leão and Álex Jiménez set up Reijnders, who delicately chipped the ball across the box to Pulisic. The forward made no mistake, sweeping the ball home from a tight angle. The San Siro erupted as Milan sought to capitalize on their newfound momentum.
Reijnders wasn't done yet; he went on to score the decisive goal at the 75-minute mark with assistance from Tammy Abraham, who provided an ingenious backheel pass to send Reijnders through on goal, slotting it expertly to secure the win. The jubilation among the Milan faithful contrasted sharply with the despair felt by Como, who were reduced to 10 men late on when Dele Alli, making his long-awaited return to professional soccer after two years away, was sent off after just nine minutes on the pitch.
Alli's introduction came as Como manager Cesc Fabregas looked to invigorate his squad. He entered the fray as a substitute for Da Cunha but quickly found himself dismissed following a reckless foul on Milan's Ruben Loftus-Cheek. Initially booked, his red card was confirmed after the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) reviewed the incident and deemed it worthy of expulsion. After the game, Fabregas did not shy away from critiquing Alli's decision-making, calling it "a serious mistake by an experienced player." Fabregas reflected, "Dele Alli is a goal scorer. I tried to give him an opportunity, but he left the team at a time when it could have made it 2-2."
Despite the setback, Como maintained their position above the relegation zone, remaining seven points clear. Meanwhile, AC Milan climbed to seventh, just five points off the coveted fourth position currently held by Juventus. Elsewhere, Monza's captain Armando Izzo scored his first goal in over two years—although Monza could only muster a 1-1 draw against Parma, leaving them firmly at the bottom of Serie A. Hellas Verona celebrated victory with a 1-0 win over Udinese, and Torino managed to edge past Empoli with the same scoreline.
The weekend match marked another mixed day for teams trying to navigate the challenges of Serie A, with player performances and pivotal tactical decisions continuing to shape the season's outcomes. For Pulisic and Milan, this comeback win served as both inspiration and encouragement heading forward.