Christian Pulisic said he felt “truly dead” just 48 hours earlier, yet the AC Milan star stepped off the bench and delivered a sensational two-goal rescue act that flipped a chaotic night in Turin and pushed Milan back to the top of Serie A.
The American winger revealed after the match that he had been battling the flu right up until Monday morning. His words made his performance even more remarkable and raised new questions about Milan’s title credentials as the season begins to tighten.
Milan entered the match under pressure. Weekend wins for Napoli and Inter had pushed them down to third and a sluggish start made the situation even more urgent. Torino struck twice inside 17 minutes, first through Nikola Vlasic and then via a Duvan Zapata penalty that left Milan’s bench stunned and the away fans silent.
The climb back began with a moment of brilliance. Adrien Rabiot hammered a 35 meter strike that gave Milan a lifeline and shifted the atmosphere. By the 67th minute Pulisic was on the pitch, still recovering from illness but trusted to change the match. Within minutes he did exactly that. His movement sharpened Milan’s attack and his first finish brought belief flooding back. His second goal completed a dramatic turnaround that sealed a 3 to 2 win and lifted Milan level on points with Napoli while holding a superior goal difference.
Speaking to Sky Sports Italia after the match, Pulisic admitted he had not even known if he would play. He said he woke up feeling far better on Monday and insisted that the victory mattered more than the brace. His comments added a surprising layer to an already dramatic night.
Assistant coach Marco Landucci, standing in for the suspended Massimiliano Allegri, praised both the player and the staff who managed his condition. Landucci described Pulisic as calm in the dressing room but ruthless in front of goal. He highlighted the American’s competitive streak and called him a sharpshooter who thrives in tense moments.
The timing of Pulisic’s resurgence matters. He is expected to play a central role for the United States at next summer’s World Cup. The Americans will face Paraguay, Australia and the winner of a UEFA playoff, a draw confirmed on Friday. His influence with Milan is growing in parallel. His brace against Torino brought him to seven Serie A goals which places him at the top of the league scoring chart.
The bigger question now is how far Milan can ride this momentum. Pulisic himself admitted Milan have not dominated matches the way they hoped but said the squad is progressing and taking each challenge step by step. His performance while ill suggests he is becoming one of the team’s most reliable match winners.
If he continues scoring at this rate the title race could shift again. If his form carries into the World Cup the United States might arrive with a genuine difference maker. For now Milan will simply be relieved that on a night when they needed leadership Pulisic rose from the bench and delivered it.
