AC Milan beat Slavia Prague in a six-goal decider in the first leg of the UEFA Europa League 16 in Italy on Thursday.
The visiting team had to play for more than an hour with 10 men after El Hadji Malick Diouf was sent off directly for a damaging foul on Christian Pulisic.
Despite their penalty, Prague competed well and found the net twice thanks to David Doudera and Ivan Schranz.
But Milan won 4-2.
Three of Milan’s four goals were scored by former Chelsea players Olivier Giroud, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Pulisic. Milan’s other top scorer was Tijjani Reijnders.
Pulisic’s goal came in the 85th minute thanks to clever paints from teammate Rafael Leao.
Leao set out to score after dribbling past Tomas Vlcek and firing a shot past goalkeeper Jindrich Stanek.
But a flying Pulisic received the final touch from a close variety to score his ninth goal since arriving in Milan.
Christian Pulisic completes a good individual effort from Rafa Leão pic. twitter. com/zkstl1pVPy
Former USMNT forward Charlie Davies later claimed in his post-match investigation for CBS Sports that Leao “didn’t look very happy” after Pulisic “stole” the goal from him.
Davies also warned that there is “a bit of tension” between teammates Leao and Pulisic.
He added: “We’ve noticed that in past games, Leao doesn’t look many times to pass Christian Pulisic, he does it alone. Even if Christian is open, he’d rather check his luck. “
Should Rafael Leão be ANGRY at Christian Pulisic for his goal?The #UEL study is divided pic. twitter. com/tTwNX9XlmP
Former West Ham United captain Nigel Reo-Coker also sits on the CBS panel and said: “I’m telling you now, after betting the game, if you’re a striker about to score a goal and you know the ball is going to go in. And someone does this to you. . .
“There’s a diversion of targets and that’s going to cause tension. “
The stage will take place in the Czech Republic on March 14.
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