Pulisic's Brace Against Cagliari

On This Day in 2024, the Winger Scored Twice to Power Milan to a 5-1 Victory Over Cagliari, Setting the Stage for Copa America

Coming into the match against Cagliari at San Siro on May 11, AC Milan had been struggling through a difficult stretch. The Rossoneri had failed to win any of their last four games in Serie A, earning just three points during that stretch and it was their longest winless run since February 2023. The team was in desperate need of a response after a disappointing 3-3 draw against Genoa the previous weekend, where their performance had been lackluster from the beginning.

Pressure had been mounting on manager Stefano Pioli, who admitted in his pre-match press conference that he was concerned about his players' commitment in the season finale. The coach made significant changes to his starting lineup, benching captain Davide Calabria, Fikayo Tomori, Theo Hernandez, and Rafael Leao. For Christian Pulisic, however, this match represented an opportunity to continue what had already been his best season statistically in European football.

The American had been enjoying a renaissance since his summer move to Milan. After struggling for consistent playing time at Chelsea in his final two seasons, Pulisic had found a new home in Italy. He had already reached double figures in Serie A with his sublime left-footed strike against Lecce on April 6, surpassing his previous best of nine goals in the 2019-20 Premier League season with Chelsea.

The match started slowly, with Milan patiently maintaining possession against a Cagliari side content to sit back. The Rossoneri broke the deadlock in the 35th minute when Ismael Bennacer turned home a loose ball after Chukwueze's shot was blocked. Milan took that 1-0 lead into halftime.

Pioli made three changes at the break, bringing on Leao, who would play a crucial role in what followed. The Portuguese winger nearly made an immediate impact, hitting the crossbar just four minutes after coming on. But it was in the 59th minute when the dynamic between Leao and Pulisic produced magic for Milan's second goal.

Leao drove forward with characteristic pace before slipping a perfectly weighted ball through to Pulisic, who timed his run expertly to stay onside. The American showed his clinical finishing ability, expertly beating Cagliari goalkeeper Simone Scuffet to double Milan's advantage. It was Pulisic's 11th Serie A goal of the season, further extending his personal best in league play.

Though Nahitan Nández pulled one back for Cagliari four minutes later with a nice flick finish, the Rossoneri quickly restored their two-goal cushion when Tijjani Reijnders unleashed a stunning right-footed effort from about 30 yards out. Leao added a fourth in the 83rd minute, rounding the keeper and poking home. But Pulisic wasn't finished. In the 86th minute, Noah Okafor delivered a precise cross that the American met with power and precision. Though Yerry Mina attempted to clear the ball off the line, it had already crossed, giving Pulisic his first brace in a Milan shirt and Milan's fifth goal of the night.

The 5-1 victory was Milan's first time scoring five goals in a game all season, a dominant performance that helped secure mathematical qualification for the next edition of the Supercoppa Italiana and kept them firmly in second place in the Serie A standings with 74 points.

For Pulisic, the brace capped what would become his most productive season in European football. He would finish the campaign with 15 goals and 10 assists across all competitions, establishing himself as perhaps the best Italian signing of the 2023-24 season. His performances would earn him a place on the 3-man shortlist for Serie A Midfielder of the Season alongside Hakan Çalhanoğlu and Teun Koopmeiners, and ultimately a spot in the 2023-24 Serie A Team of the Season.

As the season concluded, Pulisic shifted his focus to the upcoming Copa America with the United States Men's National Team. In interviews, he expressed that he was feeling the best he had ever been, both on and off the field.

"From a soccer standpoint, everyone looks and, yeah, individually pretty good season," Pulisic shared, "but I will say, yeah, away from the game I'm doing really well, maybe the best I've ever been. I'm feeling like I'm in a good place."

Heading into the Copa America without the burden of the struggles that had weighed on him during his final years at Chelsea, Pulisic carried newfound confidence from his successful season at Milan. For the first time in years, he would enter a major tournament in excellent form, ready to lead the USMNT on home soil with the momentum of his Italian renaissance behind him.

"This season, all the soccer aside, I'm just happy to be here," Pulisic said. "I'm happy to be with the national team and then get some time off after and enjoy that. I'm definitely feeling in a good place going into the summer."