FÜLLKRUG NETS WINNER AGAINST LECCE
Serie A
Füllkrug's header - a wonderfully sweet first AC Milan goal - sealed a thoroughly deserved victory. San Siro erupted in the 76th minute as the German, introduced just three minutes earlier, headed past Falcone for the decisive goal, finally turning AC Milan's sustained pressure into a match-winning moment. The Rossoneri thus built on their win over Como, continued their unbeaten run in Serie A, and claimed all three points on matchday 21. As mentioned, the decisive moment came with Niclas Füllkrug's first Rossoneri - and Serie A - goal, set up by a fine cross from Alexis Saelemaekers. With this win, the Rossoneri consolidate second place in the table on 46 points, remaining three points behind Inter.
Massimiliano Allegri's men showed determination and quality throughout, creating numerous chances and forcing Falcone into a series of decisive saves. From the opening minutes, the pattern of the game was clear: AC Milan constantly on the front foot and Lecce under sustained pressure, until Niclas' decisive header in the 76th minute. At the other end, the defence held firm, giving the Salentini attack virtually nothing to work with over the full 90 minutes. It was a fully deserved three points, and attention now immediately turns to the next challenge - a tricky away fixture in Rome against Gasperini’s Giallorossi, direct rivals in the race for a top-four finish.
CHECK OUT THE GALLERY FROM AC MILAN v LECCE
MATCH REPORT
AC Milan started the match on the front foot, looking to impose themselves from the opening minutes. The Rossoneri went close twice in the sixth minute, as Saelemaekers curled a left-footed effort just wide before Gabbia nodded a header narrowly past the post. Saelemaekers, one of liveliest players on the pitch, then picked out Pulisic, who forced Falcone into his first save of the game (35'). Despite AC Milan's pressure and territorial dominance, the first half ended goalless. After the break, the Rossoneri stepped up the tempo immediately in search of the breakthrough. Gabbia threatened with two headers, as did Estupiñan with a volley.
From there, Falcone kept Lecce in the game. In the 57th minute, he made an excellent save to push away Ricci's low drive. Ten minutes later, he produced a superb stop to deny Pulisic from close range. With 73 minutes on the clock, the Lecce goalkeeper was again alert, bravely denying the newly introduced Füllkrug. The pressure finally told in the 76th minute: Saelemaekers delivered from the right and Füllkrug rose to head home, scoring his first goal for AC Milan and giving the Rossoneri a deserved lead. Lecce attempted a late response but were limited to a single corner, while Nkunku went close to sealing the win late on, only for Falcone to intervene once more. In the end, AC Milan claimed a vital victory, earned through solidity and determination.
MATCH DETAILS
AC MILAN 1-0 LECCE
AC MILAN (3-5-2): Maignan; Tomori, Gabbia, De Winter; Saelemaekers (80' Athekame), Ricci (73' Loftus-Cheek, Jashari (87' Modrić), Rabiot, Estupiñan; Pulisic (73' Füllkrug), Leão (87' Nkunku). Subs.: Terracciano, Torriani; Bartesaghi, Odogu, Pavlović; Fofana Y.. Coach: Allegri.
LECCE (4-3-3): Falcone; Ndaba, Siebert, Tiago Gabriel, Gallo (85' N'Dri); Gandelman, Ramadani (85' Maleh), Coulibaly; Sottil (54' Banda), Stulić (69' Morente), Pierotti. Subs.: Fruchtl, Samooja; Jean, Kouassi, Pérez; Fofana M., Helgason, Kaba, Marchwinski, Ngom, Sala. Coach: Di Francesco.
Referee: Zufferli from Udine.
Goal: 76' Füllkrug (M).
Booked: 21' De Winter (M), 84' Ramadani (L).
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