Christian Pulisic misses penalty as AC Milan's top-four hopes dented

Updated: Feb 22, 2025, 03:34 pm

AC Milan endured a frustrating evening when an early own goal from Malick Thiaw and a missed penalty from Christian Pulisic saw them fall 2-1 at Torino on Saturday, leaving their top-four hopes in Serie A under pressure.

The draw left Milan in seventh place with 41 points, 15 points behind leaders Napoli and six behind fourth-placed Lazio. Torino are 11th with 31 points.

The visitors got off to the worst possible start when goalkeeper Mike Maignan attempted to clear the ball outside the box after five minutes, only for it to hit defender Thiaw and ricochet into the open net for an own goal.

Pulisic had a golden chance to level the score for Milan just after the half-hour mark, stepping up to the penalty spot after a handball from the hosts. But Torino keeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic read the kick perfectly, diving to the right to deny Pulisic -- the first penalty miss of the United States international's career.

Christian Pulisic missed a penalty during AC Milan's defeat to Torino on Saturday.
Claudio Villa/AC Milan via Getty Images

The Serbian has saved four penalties this season in Serie A -- more than any other goalkeeper in Europe's top five leagues.

Milan kept pushing for chances throughout the match but Milinkovic-Savic pulled off several fine saves to preserve Torino's lead until Tijjani Reijnders's equaliser in the 74th minute.

Just as hope had sparked for Milan, Torino substitute Gvidas Gineitis extinguished it two minutes later with a surging run into the box and a low shot from a tight angle that slipped in, sealing the win for his side.

As the final whistle blew, a chorus of boos rose from the visiting Milan fans, their frustration spilling over after yet another shaky display.

Milan goalscorer Reijnders sided with the fans.

"We had a lot of difficulties," he told DAZN. "Even in a game like this, where we manage to equalise, we cannot leave the field with a defeat. We need to be more mature in some moments of the game.

"We must remain positive, before arriving here there was optimism in the group."

For Torino's Lithuanian midfielder Gineitis the mood was at the other scale.

"I'm very happy to have already scored two goals this season. As a child I couldn't even imagine that I would score against Milan. This is a dream for me."