Americans Abroad midweek review: Pulisic and McKennie play role in Serie A wins, Adams makes Bournemouth debut

• by Paul Kennedy  @pkedit, Sep 27, 2023

In his first start on the left wing for AC Milan, Christian Pulisic was involved in the Rossoneri’s first and third goals in a 3-1 win over Cagliari. Photo: Luigi Canu/IPA via ZUMA Press


• Christian Pulisic  shines on left wing.

AC Milan moved into a tie for first place on points with Inter Milan when it rallied for a 3-1 win at Cagliari.

Milan was trailing when Noah Okafor tied the match in the 40th minute. He bounced on a loose ball after Pulisic raced in from the left side and put in a driving cross that was not cleared away by Cagliari goalkeeper Boris Radunovic.

Milan put the game away in the 60th minute when Pulisic found Ruben Loftus-Cheek, his former Chelsea teammate, outside the area. Loftus-Cheek’s low shot from 25 yards gave Radunovic no chance.

Pulisic has started all six Serie A games since his move to Milan. The first five were on the right wing. Against Cagliari, he started on the left side in place of Portuguese star Rafael Leao, who entered the match in the 69th minute.

• Weston McKennie triggers Juventus winner.

McKennie was involved in the lone goal for Juventus in its 1-0 win over Lecce.

McKennie's lofted ball from the right side found French midfielder Adrien Rabiot at the far post. Rabiot headed the ball back across the goal to Arkadiusz Milik for an easy goal.

McKennie has been one of the most consistent players for Juventus in his four starts at right wing back, a position he shares with U.S. teammate Tim Weah.

Serie A:
1. Inter Milan, 15 points (15-3)
2. AC Milan, 15 points (13-8)
3. Juventus, 13 points

Juventus-Lecce Highlights:


• Gazzetta dello Sport ratings: Cagliari vs. AC Milan:



Note: Yunus Musah, who came on in the 59th minute, had a grade of "6.5." 

• Gazzetta dello Sport ratings: Juventus vs. Lecce:

Note: Weah, who came on for Weston McKennie in the 60th. minute of Juve's 4-2 loss, had a grade of "5."

• Tyler Adams makes Bournemouth debut.

Adams played his first game in more than six months when he came on the second half of Bournemouth's 2-0 win over Stoke City in the Carabao Cup.

Adams, who captained the USA at the 2022 World Cup, joined the Cherries from Leeds United in late August, but he was still recovering from a hamstring injury that required surgery.

• Johnny Cardoso returns for Libertadores Cup semifinals.

The U.S. international played the first 45 minutes and picked up a yellow card for Internacional in its 2-2 tie at Brazilian rival Fluminense in the first leg of the Libertadores Cup semifinals.

Like Adams, Cardoso missed the USMNT's September window. He was called up but had to withdraw because of an ankle injury he suffered against Bolivia's Bolivar in the Libertadores Cup quarterfinals.

Fluminense-Internacional Highlights: