USMNT star Christian Pulisic netted his season debut on Sunday, giving AC Milan an early lead over Lecce in Serie A.
Pavlovic surveyed the half‑space, then launched a long ball as Pulisic sprinted into the box, leaving two defenders in his wake and cushioning the pass with a smooth right‑foot touch.
He clipped the ball with his left‑foot inside, sending it sliding past goalkeeper Wladimiro Falcone into the net at the 14th minute.
See the finish below.
A week after providing the assist in a 2‑2 comeback draw at Lazio, Pulisic started for the first time under new boss Ruben Amorim. The winger, still shaking off a microfracture that sidelined him through preseason, has been eased back after a substitute cameo in a 2‑0 Europa League loss to Benfica, and is now sharpening his match fitness for Milan’s packed agenda. For my money, his gradual return is the smartest move Milan could make.
Pulisic was left out of the USMNT roster for the September‑October friendlies, as coach Mauricio Pochettino opted for a generational overhaul featuring 12 uncapped faces alongside 13 World Cup veterans.
After the World Cup we began reshaping the squad, evaluating every option for this camp,” Pochettino told reporters. “The 28 players selected for the four matches represent the best mix for our new objectives; the tournament is four years away, so we’re building a different kind of roster.
The Lecce goal marks Pulisic’s first for Milan since Dec. 28 and only his second in 30 games across club and country. Scoring isn’t usually an issue—he tallied double‑digit goals in each of his last three Serie A seasons and aims to repeat that output. Can he hit double figures again this campaign?