Luka Modric scores a late winner as AC Milan edge Pisa 2-1, keeping pressure on Serie A leaders Inter with a crucial victory at Arena Garibaldi.
AC Milan survived a late scare at Pisa on Friday night, with Luka Modric netting an 85th-minute winner to secure a 2-1 victory. Ruben Loftus-Cheek had opened the scoring just before halftime, while Felipe Loyola equalized for the hosts. Niclas Fullkrug missed a penalty in the second half, leaving the Rossoneri searching for a decisive goal until Modric came to the rescue. The win keeps second-placed Milan within five points of Serie A leaders Inter Milan.
After a sluggish start, Milan finally broke the deadlock in the 39th minute. Zachary Athekame’s precise cross from the right found Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who powered a header past goalkeeper Nicolas. The goal provided some relief for Massimiliano Allegri’s side, who had struggled to create clear-cut chances in the first half. Pisa responded cautiously, looking to exploit any lapses, but Milan’s defensive organization limited openings before halftime.
Milan’s control seemed secure early in the second half, but a key moment arose when Loyola fouled Strahinja Pavlovic in the box, earning Milan a penalty. Niclas Fullkrug stepped up but saw his effort narrowly clip the post, keeping Pisa in the game. The visitors were punished moments later as Felipe Loyola capitalized on a loose ball, firing low into the bottom-right corner to level the score in the 71st minute. The equalizer injected life into Pisa, who pressed aggressively but could not find a second goal.
With six minutes remaining, Luka Modric rolled back the years. The 40-year-old midfielder played a one-two with Samuele Ricci before evading Simone Canestrelli to poke the ball past Nicolas from close range. Modric became the third-oldest player to score in Serie A history, highlighting both his technical skill and invaluable experience. Despite a late red card for Adrien Rabiot, Milan held firm, showing composure under pressure to maintain their narrow advantage.
Modric was Milan’s standout performer, completing 93 accurate passes and winning seven possessions in the final third. Loftus-Cheek contributed the opener and linked play efficiently, while Mike Maignan made crucial saves to keep the hosts at bay. Milan generated 2.35 expected goals from seven shots, compared with Pisa’s 0.77 from the same number of attempts. The victory continued Milan’s unbeaten away streak and underscored their resilience in tight fixtures.
The win keeps Milan within five points of Inter at the top of Serie A, strengthening their title challenge. Milan now have 53 points from 24 matches, equalling their second-best points tally in the three-points-for-a-win era. Next up, Milan will host city rivals Internazionale in the San Siro derby on March 8, while Pisa remain six points below safety and will look to rebound against their next Serie A opponents.
