AC MILAN starting XI (4-3-3): Sportiello, Kalulu, Gabbia (subbed for Tomori), Thiaw, Florenzi (subbed for Theo Hernandez), Musah, Bennacer (subbed for Pobega), Reijnders, Chukwueze (subbed for Leao), Giroud (subbed for Okafor), Pulisic
Bench: Nava, Torriani, Calabria, Caldara, Terracciano, Adli, Zeroli, Jovic
Goals: Bennacer 35’, Pulisic 59’ 86’, Reijnders 74’, Leao 83’
CAGLIARI starting XI (3-5-2): Scuffet, Mina (subbed for Wieteska), Dossena (subbed for Azzi), Obert, Zappa, Sulemana, Prati, Deiola (subbed for Oristanio), Nandez (subbed for Lapadula), Luvumbo, Shomurodov (subbed for Mutandwa)
Bench: Aresti, Radunovic, Di Pardo, Hatzidiakos, Mancosu, Viola, Pavoletti, Petagna
Goals: Nandez 63’
In an initiative proposed by Milan - and followed by five other Serie A clubs - the players wore jerseys featuring their mothers’ maiden names. Pulisic had ‘Harlow’.
Second-placed Milan remained seven points above Bologna, who moved into third after winning at Napoli 2-0, and seven points above Juventus as the Bianconeri’s match against already-relegated Salernitana on Sunday ended in a draw.
Cagliari remained three points above the drop zone.
Milan were looking to snap a six-match winless run, and broke the deadlock 10 minutes before the break when the ball bounced around the area to an unmarked Ismael Bennacer, who volleyed his team into the lead.
Leao hit the crossbar in the second half before setting up Pulisic in the 59th minute to double Milan’s lead.
Nahitan Nández pulled one back for Cagliari four minutes later but Milan restored their two-goal advantage in the 74th with a 30-yard rocket from Tijjani Reijnders.
Cagliari came close to reducing the deficit again 10 minutes from time when Gaetano Oristanio’s in-swinging corner came off the right post and back out to Eldor Shomurodov, who then hit the crossbar.
Milan scored twice more through Leao and then Pulisic, whose finish was not cleared off the line in time by Yerry Mina.
AAP
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