Serie A | Lecce 2-3 Milan: Pulisic comeback rescues Conceicao
Lecce vs Milan
Sergio Conceicao’s tenure at Milan hung in the balance as his side staged a breathtaking comeback from a 2-0 deficit to defeat Lecce 3-2 in a Serie A thriller, a result that preserved his status as manager amidst a torrid run of form that had plunged the Rossoneri into a state of crisis. The victory, fueled by an own goal and a brace from Christian Pulisic, came despite Nikola Krstovic’s two clinical strikes for Lecce, offering Milan a lifeline after three consecutive league defeats and a humiliating Champions League exit at the hands of Feyenoord. Heading into the match, Conceicao faced a depleted squad, with goalkeeper Mike Maignan and defender Strahinja Pavlovic suspended, and key players Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Emerson Royal sidelined by injury. In a bold and surprising move, the Portuguese manager opted to bench star trio Joao Felix, Rafael Leao, and Youssouf Fofana, a decision that raised eyebrows given Milan’s desperate need for a spark. Lecce, meanwhile, arrived with their own struggles, having failed to score in their previous four outings, though only Filip Marchwinski remained unavailable for the visitors. What unfolded at the San Siro was a rollercoaster of a match, marked by early drama, defensive lapses, and a second-half resurgence that showcased both Milan’s fragility and their capacity for resilience, ultimately turning the tide in Conceicao’s favor and silencing, at least temporarily, the calls for his dismissal.
The game exploded into life within the first minute, as Theo Hernandez rolled a precise ball across the box for Santiago Gimenez to tap in after just 45 seconds, only for VAR to intervene and disallow the goal, ruling the Mexican striker offside—a decision that set the tone for a frantic opening. Milan’s high tempo initially overwhelmed Lecce, with Frederic Guilbert scrambling to deny Christian Pulisic a clear chance from an Alex Jimenez cross, but the Rossoneri’s aggressive start soon unraveled. A careless pass from Tijjani Reijnders to Gimenez in midfield was intercepted, springing Lecce into a devastating counter-attack led by Nikola Krstovic, who surged forward and unleashed a ferocious right-footed strike from outside the box that rocketed into the top corner, beyond the reach of Milan’s stand-in goalkeeper. The goal shattered Lecce’s 366-minute drought in Serie A, their first since January 31, and exposed Milan’s vulnerability on the break, a recurring theme in their recent woes. The hosts responded with intent, Yunus Musah forcing a save from Wladimiro Falcone and Gimenez narrowly missing the target after sliding onto a Hernandez assist, but their profligacy kept them at bay. Matteo Gabbia thought he had equalized when he volleyed in a free kick from Hernandez at the near post, only for VAR to again intervene, spotting another offside infringement. Lecce, emboldened by their lead, grew in confidence, Krstovic nearly doubling his tally with a clipped effort that grazed the post after a slick exchange with Guilbert, while Santiago Pierotti squandered a golden opportunity following a mistake by Malick Thiaw, firing wide from close range. Milan’s pressure continued, with Gimenez heading straight at Falcone and the Lecce goalkeeper reacting sharply to deny a back-heel flick from the striker, but the first half ended with Conceicao’s side trailing, their early promise undone by defensive naivety and a lack of ruthlessness.
The second half brought a shift in dynamics, as Conceicao rolled the dice by introducing Rafael Leao at the restart, a substitution that injected urgency into Milan’s play. Gimenez nearly leveled the score early on, turning deftly with his back to goal and squeezing a shot through a defender’s legs that thumped the base of the near post, a miss that seemed to epitomize Milan’s frustrations. However, Lecce struck again on the hour mark, capitalizing on another swift counter-attack as Tete Morente rolled the ball across from the right, leaving Krstovic unmarked to sweep home from 12 yards and stun the San Siro into silence. At 2-0 down, Milan’s season appeared to be teetering on the brink of collapse, but a lifeline emerged through a stroke of fortune. Tammy Abraham released Leao down the left, and though Joao Felix—now on as a substitute—scuffed his finish from the ensuing cross, the ball ricocheted off Lecce defender Antonino Gallo’s shinpad and into the net, halving the deficit. The momentum swung decisively moments later when Federico Baschirotto clumsily felled Pulisic as he latched onto an Abraham pass in the box, earning Milan a penalty. The USMNT star stepped up and dispatched it with authority, blasting the ball into the roof of the net to restore parity and ignite the home crowd. Leao, now a constant menace, tested Falcone with a stinging shot from a tight angle, before delivering the decisive blow with a pinpoint cross that found Pulisic at the back post, the winger cushioning a volley off the inside of his right boot to complete the turnaround and send the San Siro into raptures.
This 3-2 victory was a testament to Milan’s character, clawing their way back from the abyss in a match that could have easily marked the end of Conceicao’s reign. For Lecce, Krstovic’s brace was a bittersweet highlight, his predatory finishing not enough to secure a result against a Milan side that found its rhythm when it mattered most. Pulisic’s brace, combined with Leao’s game-changing impact off the bench, underscored the quality within Milan’s ranks, even amid their injury and suspension setbacks. Conceicao’s decision to initially drop his big names raised questions, but his second-half adjustments—bringing on Leao and Felix—proved pivotal, suggesting a tactical acumen that had been doubted during Milan’s recent slide. The win offered a reprieve from the mounting pressure, halting a run of three straight league losses and providing a glimmer of hope after their European elimination. For the Rossoneri faithful, it was a night of raw emotion, from despair to delirium, as their team defied the odds to keep their season alive. While Lecce rued their inability to hold firm, Milan could savor a hard-fought triumph that might just prove a turning point, with Conceicao’s status, for now, secure—though the road ahead remains fraught with challenges.
