Cisse and Pulisic Strike Early as Milan Beat Genoa 2-1 at Marassi

AC Milan beat Genoa 2-1 at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris on Sunday, November 8, in Serie A Matchday 11. Alphadjo Cisse scored in the 13th minute and Christian Pulisic added a second in the 19th, and Milan held on for the win after Mikael Ellertsson pulled one back for Genoa in the 88th minute.

The result gave Milan a second consecutive league win. It also steadied the side after their Champions League setback against Ferencvaros in midweek, and it was built in the first 19 minutes at the Marassi.

Two goals in six minutes

Milan's opener came from a Genoa mistake. Genoa defender Vasquez was robbed on the right, and Adrien Rabiot rolled the ball across for Cisse, who swept it in first time from 14 yards to make it 1-0 in the 13th minute.

Six minutes later the lead doubled. Pulisic scored in the 19th minute, and Milan went into half time 2-0 ahead. The first half finished 0-2 to the visitors, and Genoa had given themselves a long way back with the game barely 20 minutes old.

The two early goals changed the shape of the afternoon. Milan could protect a two-goal lead, and Genoa had to chase the match in front of their own supporters at the Marassi.

Genoa fight back too late

Genoa won the second half 1-0, but their goal came too late to change the result. Ellertsson scored in the 88th minute, finishing on the rebound after an El Shaarawy free kick was charged down, with the ball taking a deflection off Ardon Jashari on its way in.

Two minutes plus added time was all Genoa had left to find an equaliser. Milan defended the final moments and the full time whistle confirmed a 2-1 away win, with the first half scoreline of 0-2 and a second half of 1-0 to the home side.

Milan bounce back

The win matters for Milan because of what came before it. They arrived at the Marassi after a Champions League setback against Ferencvaros, and they answered it with two goals in the first 19 minutes and a second straight victory in the league.

For Genoa, the afternoon turned on the opening spell. Losing the ball for the first goal and conceding again six minutes later left them chasing a two-goal gap for more than an hour, and Ellertsson's late reply was their only reward.