Pulisic Pushes AC Milan Past Inter as Maignan Becomes the Derby Hero

Milan Find the Breakthrough After a Slow Start

AC Milan earned a vital 1–0 win over rivals Inter to jump into second place in Serie A. The first half offered little excitement, but Milan came alive after the break. Christian Pulisic reacted quickest when Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer failed to handle an Alexis Saelemaekers shot. The American forward tapped the ball in from close range and sent the red-and-black end of San Siro into celebration.

Inter Given a Lifeline Through VAR

Inter struggled to create clear chances, but they were handed a golden opportunity with 17 minutes remaining. VAR ruled that Strahinja Pavlović had fouled Marcus Thuram inside the box. Former Milan midfielder Hakan Çalhanoglu stepped up, hoping to silence the home fans with an equaliser.

Maignan Saves the Moment

But Mike Maignan became the hero. The French goalkeeper read Çalhanoglu’s low shot perfectly and pushed it away with a strong hand. It was his second major stop of the night — he had already denied Lautaro Martínez with a stunning save in the first half to keep the match at 0–0.

What the Result Means for the Title Race

The victory moves Milan two points behind leaders Roma, who beat Cremonese earlier in the day. Inter sit fourth, just one point behind Milan, keeping the top of the table extremely tight. Milan’s derby win now sends a message: they are very much part of the title fight.