Former Chelsea star Christian Pulisic scores directly from a corner as forgotten Premier League keeper suffers howler
CHRISTIAN PULISIC scored directly from a corner – as another forgotten Premier League player suffered a howler in goal.
Pulisic, 26, is now playing his football with AC Milan.
And he broke the deadlock in their Champions League clash with Club Brugge at the San Siro in unusual fashion.
Pulisic trotted over to take an inswinging corner from the left with 34 minutes on the clock.
But rather than deliver a cross for his team-mates to get on the end of, the American’s whipped centre headed straight for goal.
And it ended up in the back of the net in bizarre scenes – thanks in part to a Simon Mignolet blunder.
Pulisic and Mignolet have a combined 243 Premier League appearances – 20 goals in 98 games for Pulisic and 80 clean sheets in 245 appearances for Mignolet.
The ex-Liverpool and Sunderland goalkeeper somehow allowed the ball to squeeze in.
Former Chelsea winger Pulisic lapped up the adulation of his fellow stars and fans as replays showed Mignolet’s nightmare.
The goalkeeper got caught out and was likely expecting a touch from an attacker.
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But it did not arrive and the Belgian ended up diving helplessly to the floor as the ball flew past.
Defender Maxim De Cuyper tried his best to clear the ball off the line but got himself in a muddle, too.
Things went from bad to worse for Club Brugge just six minutes later.
That is because Raphael Onyedika saw red after a lengthy VAR check.
The Nigerian midfielder caught Tijjani Reijnders high on the ankle in the challenge – but looked shocked to be sent for an early bath.
Owen Hargreaves Season Predictions
HARGREAVES ON BELLINGHAM
“I SAW the Super Cup and Jude Bellingham played the best game of his life.
“He’s playing a bit more in his natural position, a little bit deeper. He’s the perfect midfield player.
“Jude is just going to get better and better with Kylian Mbappe and Endrick.
“I know a lot of people have not seen much of Endrick but to go with him and Rodrygo, Valverde, Modric, Courtois and Alaba, Rudiger, Carvajal . . .
“That is some collection of players, it’s amazing.”
HARGREAVES ON CHAMPIONS LEAGUE DARK HORSES
“PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN, just in the way Luis Enrique plays. He plays such aggressive football and they’ve got so many really good ball players.
“I’m happy to see they’re focused on young French players. That’s probably what they should have done long ago.
“Inter are really good. They’ve got a clear identity to how they play under Simone Inzaghi.
“Marcus Thuram came on a free, it’s amazing no one else picked him up.
“They’re not the most offensive team but often those teams do really well in the Champions League.
“They don’t make mistakes in silly moments.”
HARGREAVES ON PREM CONTENDERS
“MANCHESTER CITY have the best squad and they’re using four centre-backs so defensively they’re a bit more stable.
“Arsenal need a little bit more experience in the Champions League.
“To win the Champions League might take a little bit more time in the transfer windows. But they’re going to win trophies, it’s a question of when.
“Liverpool have crazy firepower. Federico Chiesa is an amazing player and he’ll suit the Premier League because he’s crazy explosive.
“I’m excited for Aston Villa as Villa Park is going to be one of the best atmospheres in Europe this season.”
HARGREAVES ON PLAYERS TO WATCH OUT FOR
“MICHAEL OLISE is going to be great at Bayern Munich.
“Playing at Crystal Palace he probably didn’t get the notoriety he deserved but he’s such a good finisher and technically really good.
“Endrick at Real Madrid is cool because people don’t know a lot about him. He’s still so young but he’s just got it.
“Florian Wirtz at Bayer Leverkusen is an amazing player with a really unique style. His numbers from last season were crazy.
“As a young kid, putting himself in the Ballon d’Or conversation is rare. He’ll be playing at Real Madrid or Man City in a couple of years.