Nigeria international, Samuel Chukwueze ended his eight-game goal drought for AC Milan by netting the winner in a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Udinese at the San Siro on Saturday.

The 24-year-old’s decisive strike not only secured three crucial points for the 10-man Rossoneri but also marked his first goal of the 2024/25 season, providing a needed boost to both player and club.

Chukwueze, who joined Milan in the summer of 2023, had been eager to open his account for the new campaign after a mixed debut season in Italy. Last term, the former Villarreal star managed three goals across all competitions, including two in the UEFA Champions League group stage against Borussia Dortmund and Newcastle United.

The Nigeria international’s return to form comes at a crucial juncture for Milan, who have been grappling with inconsistent performances in recent weeks. The Rossoneri entered the match still reeling from a 2-1 defeat to Fiorentina, where they missed two penalties and saw key players Theo Hernandez and Tammy Abraham struggle.

Milan manager Stefano Pioli reshuffled his attack for the Udinese clash, dropping Rafael Leao to the bench and pushing Christian Pulisic beside Alvaro Morata and behind Noah Okafor. This tactical adjustment proved fruitful as it created the opening for Chukwueze’s goal.

The decisive moment came early in the match when Okafor surged down the left flank before delivering a precise pass to Pulisic. The American international showed great awareness to keep the move flowing, laying the ball off for Chukwueze, who swept home first-time with his left foot.

Chukwueze’s goal took on even greater significance when Milan were reduced to 10 men on the half-hour mark. Midfielder Tijjani Reijnders received a straight red card for a last-man foul on Sandi Lovric, leaving the home team to defend their slender lead for over an hour.

His goal against Udinese brings Chukwueze’s tally for Milan to four, adding to his strikes against Hellas Verona in Serie A and his European exploits last season. The Nigerian will be hoping this goal kickstarts a productive spell as Milan look to mount a serious Scudetto challenge.

Credit: punchng.com