AC Milan Salvages Draw Against Pisa with Last-Minute Goal
A dramatic late goal from substitute Zachary Athekame secured a 2-2 draw for AC Milan against Pisa on Saturday, October 25, 2025, at the San Siro. The Rossoneri narrowly avoided a defeat that would have jeopardized their position atop the Liga Italia standings.
Milan took the initiative from the opening whistle, establishing a dominant attacking presence. The hosts found the back of the net early, with Rafael Leao unleashing a powerful shot from outside the penalty box in the seventh minute, sending the ball into the right corner of Pisa’s goal. Despite their early advantage, Milan struggled to capitalize on further opportunities in the first half.
“Milan appeared dominant in the first half,” a source reported, “but had difficulty creating dangerous opportunities after winning.” Youssouf Fofana attempted a long-range shot, but Pisa’s goalkeeper, Adrian Sampe, proved equal to the task. The score remained 1-0 as the first half concluded.
The second half brought renewed drama. Milan nearly extended their lead in the 50th minute when Santiago Gimenez fired a volley, but the ball sailed wide of the goal. The momentum shifted in the 60th minute when Pisa was awarded a penalty after a handball by Koni De Winter following a shot from Juan Cuadrado. Cuadrado confidently converted the penalty, leveling the score at 1-1.
Milan continued to press for a winner, with Leao hitting the crossbar in the 65th minute and Alexis Saelemaekers denied by a brilliant save from Sampe. However, against the run of play, Pisa took the lead in the 86th minute. M’Bala Nzola exploited a defensive lapse, receiving a long pass from Ebenezer Akinsanmiro and slotting the ball past Mike Maignan.
Just as defeat seemed inevitable, Athekame emerged as the hero, scoring a long-range equalizer in the 90+3 minute, leaving Sampe with no chance. The match concluded with the score locked at 2-2.
The draw sees Milan reach 17 points, maintaining their lead in the Liga Italia standings, but their advantage is precarious. They are only two points ahead of Inter Milan, Napoli, and AS Roma, all of whom have yet to play this week. Pisa, meanwhile, climbed out of the relegation zone, rising to 17th place with four points.
Lineups:
Milan: Maignan; De Winter, Gabbia, Pavlovic; Saelemaekers, Fofana, Modric, Ricci, Bartesaghi; Leao, Gimenez
Pisa: Always; Caracciolo, Raúl Albiol, Canestrelli; Touré, Akinsanmiro, Aebischer, Bonfanti; Tramoni, Meister; Nzola.
