AC Milan seemed in control from the kick-off at San Siro. They opened the scoring inside seven minutes when Rafael Leão curled a shot into the bottom corner after a composed build-up. Encouraged by the lead, Milan pressed confidently and kept Pisa mostly on the defensive. At this stage, everything looked to favour the hosts.
Pisa Rally with Penalty and Shock Lead
However, the game turned as Pisa began to find their rhythm. In the 60th minute, Pisa were awarded a penalty after Milan defender Koni De Winter handled the ball in the box; Juan Cuadrado stepped up to convert and level the score. Then with four minutes remaining, Pisa struck again through M’Bala Nzola following a counter-attack. Suddenly the visitors were ahead and the mood at San Siro shifted dramatically.
Athekame’s Late Heroics Save Milan
Despite dominating possession (over 67%) and creating more than twenty shots, Milan found themselves trailing and frustrated. Crucially, in the third minute of added time, substitute Zachary Athekame fired a long-range strike through traffic that found the bottom corner. The dramatic equaliser spared Milan a defeat and rescued a point in unexpected fashion.
Implications and Tactical Takeaways
For Milan, the draw feels like two points lost. They led twice, dominated large periods of play, yet lacked the killer instinct and allowed a newly-promoted side to lead. For Pisa, the performance represents resilience and courage. They defended intelligently, capitalised on chances and nearly secured a historic win. The result lifts Pisa off the bottom of the table and illustrates how they can compete against top teams.
Looking Ahead
Milan must build on this result but also correct the defensive lapses and finishing inefficiencies. The next fixtures will test whether they can convert dominance into wins. Pisa head home with belief and will look to maintain momentum, prove this result was not a fluke and fight for their first win of the season.
Conclusion
In a dramatic and unpredictable match, AC Milan were held to a 2-2 draw by Pisa. Milan led, conceded twice, but eventually rescued a point through Athekame’s late strike. The hosts’ dominance did not translate into victory, while Pisa showed they can challenge higher-ranked opponents. Both teams will take something from the game and lessons remain for the journey ahead.
Bonus Read: Werder Bremen Defeat Union Berlin 1-0
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