Christian Pulisic ensured AC Milan ended the year on a high by scoring a second-half goal that secured a 1-0 home win over Sassuolo in Serie A on Saturday.
In the 59th minute, the American broke the deadlock by skilfully chipping the ball over Sassuolo keeper Andrea Consigli after receiving Ismaël Bennacer‘s defence-splitting pass.
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Milan are in third place with 36 points, narrowing the gap to leaders Inter Milan to nine after they played out a 1-1 draw at Genoa on Friday. Sassuolo are 16th with 16.
Milan manager Stefano Pioli fielded a depleted back line, with Fikayo Tomori, Malick Thiaw and Pierre Kalulu all sidelined due to injuries.
The hosts had an early effort disallowed when Olivier Giroud was offside as he delivering a cross for Bennacer to slot home.
Another Milan attempt on goal was disallowed as Rafael Leão‘s finish was cancelled out for offside in the build-up.
Photo by Giuseppe Cottini/AC Milan via Getty Images
Sassuolo had their best chance moments later when Domenico Berardi‘s curling shot required a diving save from keeper Mike Maignan who tipped it over the bar.
The hosts sat back after Pulisic’s goal, limiting Sassuolo to long-range attempts, and they comfortably held out for the win.
Pulisic’s strike was his sixth in Serie A for the campaign, breaking the single-season record for a U.S. international. Weston McKennie held the previous record which he set in 2020-21 with five while at Juventus.
Earlier on Saturday, Bologna‘s recent momentum was ended as they suffered a 3-0 loss at Udinese.
Thiago Motta’s side, vying for a top-four spot, were left in fifth place, trailing Fiorentina in fourth by two points.
