Serie A 2024-25: Theo Hernandez goes level’s record of Maldini as 10-man Milan beats Lecce 3-0
A largely uneventful first-half sprung to life when Morata gave Milan the lead in the 38th minute and within the next five minutes, the lead was tripled by Pulisic and Theo Hernandez.
Published : Sep 28, 2024 08:59 IST , Milan - 2 MINS READ
With 29 goals to his name, the French left-back equalled Paolo Maldini as the defender with the most goals scored for Milan in Serie A history. | Photo Credit: REUTERS
AC Milan beat Lecce 3-0 in Serie A on Friday as Alvaro Morata, Theo Hernandez and Christian Pulisic sealed the win just before the break, scoring all goals inside five minutes.
Milan, which travels to Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League on Tuesday, provisionally moved up to second in the standings on 11 points, level with leader Torino which hosts Lazio on Sunday.
A largely uneventful first-half sprung to life when Morata gave Milan the lead in the 38th minute with a towering header, nodding home a Hernandez free kick before the ball bounced in off the inside of the bar.
The Spain striker scored his second goal for Milan after he had netted in their season-opening 2-2 draw against Torino.
Hernandez doubled the advantage three minutes later with a shot into the roof of the net from a precise low cross by Rafael Leao.
With 29 goals to his name, the French left-back equalled Paolo Maldini as the defender with the most goals scored for Milan in Serie A history.
Pulisic added a third two minutes from halftime as he got to the rebound and struck into the middle of the net, moments after Tammy Abraham hit the post.
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Lecce looked good throughout the game as it searched for chances on counter-attack and had overall 16 attempts compared to 15 by Milan.
The host side, however, continued to push and Ruben Loftus-Cheek hit the bar in the second half.
Milan was left with 10 men in the 80th minute after substitute Davide Bartesaghi was sent off for his tackle on Lecce winger Lameck Banda five minutes after coming on in place of Hernandez.
Milan, which beat Venezia 4-0 in its previous home game, has scored three or more first-half goals in two consecutive home games for the first time since 2009.
Lecce, which last beat Milan at San Siro in Serie A in October 1997 (2-1), remained one place above the relegation zone with five points.
It travels to fourth-placed Udinese next, on October 5.
Milan, which had secured a hard-fought 2-1 derby win over Inter Milan last weekend, visits Fiorentina in Serie A on Octpber 6.