Pulisic's Goal Stuns Inter! AC Milan Wins Bitter Derby!

Christian Pulisic is back, folks, and he’s reminding everyone why AC Milan shelled out for him in the first place. In a tense, hard-fought Milan derby this Sunday, Pulisic bagged the only goal of the game, securing a vital 1-0 victory over bitter rivals Inter. It wasn't just Pulisic though; goalkeeper Mike Maignan put in a truly heroic performance, capped off by a penalty save that had Milan fans holding their breath until the final whistle.

Pulisic's Goal Stuns Inter! AC Milan Wins Bitter D...

The win is huge for Milan. It not only gives them bragging rights in the city, but it also prevents Inter from drawing level with Roma at the top of the Serie A table. As it stands, Roma sits pretty at the summit with 27 points, two ahead of Milan and Napoli, and three ahead of both Inter and Bologna. This season is shaping up to be a real nail-biter.

Maignan was rightly awarded Man of the Match, and Pulisic was quick to sing his teammate's praises. "100%. I just scored an easy goal, he saved us maybe 10 times," Pulisic said after the game. “For me, it's my job, I have to score goals. I was in the right place at the right time." It's good to see that kind of team spirit, especially after a match as intense as this one.

It's worth remembering that Pulisic only recently returned from an injury layoff. He made a substitute appearance in Milan’s 2-2 draw against Parma, where he almost grabbed a late winner. But even in that brief cameo, you could see he was hungry to get back on the pitch. Before the injury, the U.S. international had been a key player for Milan, and he certainly picked up where he left off with that clinical finish against Inter.

The goal itself was a classic counter-attacking move. Youssouf Fofana won possession in midfield from Hakan Calhanoglu (talk about adding insult to injury!), sparking a quick break led by Alexis Saelemaekers. While Inter's keeper, Yann Sommer, did well to initially save Saelemaekers' shot, Pulisic was perfectly positioned to tap in the rebound. Textbook stuff.

Inter, to their credit, didn't give up easily. They'd already hit the woodwork twice before Milan defender Strahinja Pavlovic conceded a penalty by fouling Marcus Thuram. Up stepped Çalhanoğlu, looking to make amends for his earlier error, but Maignan stood tall, denying the spot-kick and sending the Milan fans into delirium. Honestly, watching Maignan deny that penalty was a masterclass in goalkeeping. It was a truly memorable moment in a match filled with drama. This victory is a statement, and it shows that AC Milan are serious contenders this season.