Modric Secures Late Victory for AC Milan Against Pisa
PISA, Italy – Luka Modric scored a dramatic late goal for AC Milan, securing a 2-1 victory over Pisa on Friday evening and narrowing the gap to Serie A leader Inter Milan to five points. The match, played at the Stadio Arena Garibaldi-Romeo Anconetani, saw Milan struggle against a determined Pisa side before Modric’s 85th-minute strike.
Milan dominated possession early on but failed to convert their advantage into scoring opportunities. Pisa, however, created the first genuine chance of the match when Filip Stojilkovic’s first-time strike forced a superb save from Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan.
The deadlock was broken in the 39th minute when Ruben Loftus-Cheek headed home a cross from Zachary Athekame, giving Milan a 1-0 lead. However, the visitors were denied a second goal shortly after halftime when Adrien Rabiot’s volley was ruled out for a handball in the build-up.
Milan were then awarded a penalty after a foul on Strahinja Pavlovic, but Niclas Fullkrug sent his effort wide, missing a crucial opportunity to extend their lead. Pisa capitalized on this miss, leveling the score in the 71st minute through Felipe Loyola, marking his first Serie A goal.
With the match seemingly headed for a draw, Modric stepped up to deliver a decisive moment. The veteran midfielder found the back of the net five minutes from time, becoming the third-oldest player to score a goal in Serie A. His goal proved to be the winner, despite a late red card for Milan’s Rabiot in stoppage time.
The victory keeps Milan firmly in the title race, five points behind Inter Milan, who are scheduled to face Juventus on Saturday. The result was a hard-fought one for Massimiliano Allegri’s side, against a Pisa team that proved to be a resilient opponent.
Pisa’s manager, Hiljemark, faced a difficult task in challenging Milan and while his team showed spirit, they ultimately fell short. The match highlighted Milan’s occasional struggles against lower-ranked teams in the league.
The game also saw Christian Pulisic enter the match as a substitute in the 77th minute, after missing Milan’s previous 3-0 win over Bologna.
Player Ratings
Pisa
- Nicolas (6) – Made a crucial save denying Füllkrug from the penalty spot.
- Canestrelli (5.5) – Initially solid, but struggled against Leao later in the match.
- Caracciolo (6) – Successfully limited Loftus-Cheek’s impact.
- Loyola (6) – Scored his first Serie A goal, but also conceded the penalty.
AC Milan
- Maignan (6) – Made a key save to deny Stojilkovic.
- Modric (7.5) – Scored the winning goal, demonstrating his continued importance to the team.
- Loftus-Cheek (6) – Opened the scoring with a well-placed header.
- Athekame (6.5) – Provided the assist for Loftus-Cheek’s goal with a precise cross.
The Milan derby against Inter on March 8th at the San Siro is now shaping up to be a crucial encounter in the Serie A title race.
