Christian Pulisic ripped his first goal of the season for AC Milan on Sunday, netting a slick strike that gave his squad an early lead against Lecce in Serie A play. The guy’s been working his way back, and this absolutely electric moment shows he’s finding his rhythm right when his national team is making some wild calls.
Captain America Bags a Banger
You have to see this goal. The play kicked off with center back Strahinja Pavlovic deep in Milan’s half, scanning the field for options. Pulisic, sharp as ever, saw Pavlovic getting ready for a long pass and just took off. He absolutely blew past two opponents, storming into the penalty area. Then, boom, a slick first touch with his right foot to control the ball. As soon as it hit the ground, he fired a shot with the inside of his left foot. The ball skidded right past Lecce goalkeeper Wladimiro Falcone and rolled into the back of the net in the 14th minute. The whole thing went down at the San Siro on its 100th anniversary weekend, too! Talk about making a statement.
Back From Injury, Back in Form
This isn’t Pulisic’s only recent highlight reel moment. Just a week ago, he notched an assist in that crazy 2-2 draw at Lazio, where Milan had to fight back from a 2-0 halftime deficit. That Lazio game was actually his first of the campaign, and Sunday’s match against Lecce marked his first start under new Milan coach Ruben Amorim. Let’s not forget what he’s overcome. He had an injury-plagued World Cup, suffering a microfracture in his leg that forced him to miss much of Milan’s preseason. He’s been slowly integrated into Amorim’s team, even making a substitute appearance in a 2-0 loss to Benfica on Wednesday in the UEFA Europa League. Clearly, he’s building that crucial match fitness, and it’s showing.
USMNT Coach Makes a Bold Call
Here’s the kicker: Pulisic got left off the USMNT squad for their upcoming friendlies in late September and early October. Coach Mauricio Pochettino is making some *moves*, emphasizing a “generational shift.” We’re talking 12 uncapped players headlining the roster, alongside 13 members from this summer’s World Cup team. Pochettino stated they “started to change and to see and to analyze all the potential player for this camp” after the World Cup, and that these friendlies are a chance to expand the player pool. He did *not* specifically comment on Pulisic’s exclusion. You gotta wonder, if Pulisic is out here scoring stunners for AC Milan, how long can the national team look past him?
Pulisic is clearly hitting his stride after that tough injury. Milan has a busy season ahead, and he looks totally ready to carry a major load. Meanwhile, the USMNT is charting a new course. It will be fascinating to see how long Pulisic’s form in Italy goes unrewarded on the international stage.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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