Pulisic and Hutchinson help AC Milan maintain unbeaten Serie A start

Christian Pulisic scored early and Omari Hutchinson added a second-half goal as AC Milan beat Udinese 2-0 to extend their unbeaten Serie A start to eight matches for the first time since 2021.

Pulisic opened the scoring after only six minutes. Luka Modric delivered a quickly taken free-kick over the defence, allowing Pulisic to beat the offside trap before calmly finding the bottom corner.

The goal compounded a difficult start for Udinese, who had arrived after losing five consecutive league fixtures for the first time since 2018. Kosta Runjaic’s side responded positively, however, and created several opportunities to level.

Hassane Kamara tested Mike Maignan with a 25-yard effort, while Fikayo Tomori fired wide with a chance for AC Milan at the other end.

That was one of the visitors’ few openings during a period when Udinese controlled much of the play. Maignan was the busier goalkeeper and made another important save to keep out Mergim Vojvoda’s long-range attempt.

Jesper Karlstrom also saw a 25-yard shot stopped by Maignan, while Udinese repeatedly worked promising positions before their attacks broke down in the final third. The hosts were often reluctant to deliver the ball into the penalty area.

Udinese continued to pose a threat after the interval, with Vojvoda dragging another effort from outside the box wide of the target.

The momentum then began to shift. AC Milan threatened through Pulisic, whose shot was saved at his near post by Maduka Okoye, and they doubled their lead midway through the second half.

Okoye could only push Ardon Jashari’s low effort back into the six-yard box, where Hutchinson reacted quickest to convert the rebound.

The goalkeeper prevented a third soon afterwards with an excellent save. He somehow got a hand to Goncalo Ramos’ point-blank attempt and diverted it onto the crossbar.

Udinese continued to search for a way back into the match. Keinan Davis tested Maignan after earlier blazing an opportunity out for a throw-in, while Giulio Vinciati, making his Serie A debut, drove forward before pulling his shot beyond the far post.

AC Milan managed the closing stages to secure victory, avoiding a fourth successive away league draw and moving into the UEFA Champions League qualification spots.

Udinese remain outside the relegation zone only on goal difference and have now lost four consecutive head-to-head meetings with AC Milan at Stadio Friuli.

Flashscore Man of the Match: Christian Pulisic (AC Milan).