Cristian Pulisic continued his bright start at AC Milan with another goal in Saturday’s 4-1 win over Torino, while Roma slumped to a 2-1 defeat at Verona.
A second goal in as many games by Pulisic since signing from Chelsea in the 33rd minute got Milan on their way to their second straight win, this time in front of a packed San Siro watching a new-look team for the first time this season.
USA forward Pulisic swept in the opener after a brilliant exchange of passes with fellow former Blue Ruben Loftus-Cheek, before Peer Schuurs stunned supporters with a lightning quick equaliser.
However Olivier Giroud then put Milan back in the lead from the penalty spot after Alessandro Buongiorno was penalised for handball following a VAR check.
Theo Hernandez then extended Milan’s lead in first half stoppage-time with a neat close-range finish following brilliant combination play with Rafael Leao.
Torino already had little chance of victory by that point and coach Ivan Juric shook his head on the touchline when another VAR check ended with another debateable spot-kick for Milan.
Giroud stroked in his third goal in Milan’s opening two matches to put the hosts three ahead midway through the second half and put to bed a largely one-sided contest.
Ondrej Duda and Cyril Ngonge struck in the first half to keep Verona level on a perfect six points with Milan with a surprise win over Roma, who are waiting to see if Romelu Lukaku will arrive on loan from Chelsea.
However Roma looked like a team in need of more than just a goalscorer after conceding two sloppy strikes to lose at the Stadio Bentegodi.
Rui Patricio patted out a Filippo Terracciano stinging shot straight into grateful Duda’s path in the fourth minute, and Ngonge skipped past Chris Smalling too easily before doubling the hosts’ lead on the stroke of half-time.
Houssem Aouar nodded Roma back into the game 11 minutes after the break but couldn’t find the breakthrough even after Isak Hien was sent off with six minutes remaining for rugby tackling Andrea Belotti while the Italy forward rushed towards goal.
Roma, missing suspended coach Jose Mourinho, hit the woodwork twice through Bryan Cristante and a powerful Lorenzo Pellegrini free-kick following Hien’s red card but couldn’t marry their dominance with clear goalscoring chances.
