Football

Slovan Bratislava 2-3 AC Milan: Rossoneri Earn Third Straight Champions League Win

Milan came through the late drama to move onto nine points while Slovan, with no points, remain rooted at the bottom of the standings

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Slovan Bratislava vs AC Milan match report
Milan celebrate Rafael Leao's goal to go 2-1 up
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AC Milan earned their third successive Champions League win with a 3-2 victory at Slovan Bratislava on Tuesday, hanging on despite coming under fierce pressure late on. (More Football News)

The first half ended level with Milan's Christian Pulisic opening the scoring in the 21st minute before a quick counterattack led to Slovan's Tigran Barseghyan equalising three minutes later.

Milan struggled to put Slovan away before substitute Rafael Leao put them back in front in the 68th minute, staying onside from Youssouf Fofana's pass to tuck home.

Tammy Abraham then extended their lead by capitalising on a horror back-pass from David Strelec just three minutes later.

Slovan pulled a goal back through Nino Marcelli in the 88th minute and also had Marko Tolic sent off late on, as he picked up two yellow cards for dissent in a matter of moments.

However, Milan came through the late drama to move onto nine points while Slovan, with no points, remain rooted at the bottom of the standings. 

Data Debrief: Pulisic flying the flag

Pulisic's opener made him just the second American player to score three goals in a single Champions League campaign, after DeMarcus Beasley for PSV in 2004-05.

Milan, meanwhile, have won three straight group-stage matches in the Champions League for the first time since 2004-05 under Carlo Ancelotti, when they reached the final but were memorably beaten by Liverpool after surrendering a 3-0 lead.