Pulisic’s Derby Delight and maignan’s Monumental Penalty Save Propel AC Milan to Victory

in a thrilling Derby della Madonnina that had Serie A title implications, AC Milan secured a crucial 1-0 victory over rivals Inter Milan on Sunday evening. The decisive moment came courtesy of American striker Christian Pulisic, but it was the heroics of goalkeeper Mike Maignan, especially a stunning penalty save, that truly cemented the win and showcased his return to elite form.

Maignan’s Masterclass Denies Serie A’s Penalty King

The match was a tense affair, with both teams creating chances. Early in the first half, maignan, the French captain for AC Milan, was called into action, making two spectacular saves. He thwarted a powerful header from Inter’s Marcus Thuram and then, with amazing agility, deflected a fierce right-footed shot from Lautaro Martínez onto the post.

However, Maignan’s most significant contribution arrived in the 77th minute. Inter was awarded a penalty, and the duty fell to Hakan Calhanoglu, a player with a formidable record from the spot. Calhanoglu, who previously played for AC Milan, entered the match having converted 21 of his 22 penalties in Serie A history. His lone miss the previous season against Napoli saw the ball strike the post.

Remarkably, before Sunday’s encounter, no Serie A goalkeeper had managed to save a penalty from Calhanoglu. The Turkish midfielder typically strikes his penalties with power, low, and at an angle, making them exceptionally difficult to stop. He aimed for a similar spot against Milan, but Maignan, demonstrating exceptional anticipation and swift reflexes, dived decisively to his right, parrying the shot away with his outstretched hand.

“It was a crucial moment. Calhanoglu is one of the best penalty takers in the league, and to deny him in that situation was massive for us.”
– A hypothetical AC Milan coach, reflecting on the importance of the save.

Calhanoglu’s overall penalty record is impressive,with 53 goals from 60 attempts across club and international duty,a success rate exceeding 88 percent,considerably higher than the general Serie A average of around 77 percent.The last time a club goalkeeper successfully saved a penalty from him was Peter Gulacsi of Leipzig in a German Bundesliga match against Bayer Leverkusen in 2016. More recently, in 2023, Welsh goalkeeper Danny Ward managed to save a penalty from Calhanoglu while he was representing Turkey.

Mike Maignan’s crucial penalty save against Hakan Calhanoglu.