Soccer Football - Serie A - Como v AC Milan - Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia, Como, Italy - January 14, 2025 AC Milan's Rafael Leao scores their second goal REUTERS/Daniele Mascolo
COMO, Italy (Reuters) -AC Milan came from a goal down to secure a 2-1 win at lowly Como in Serie A on Tuesday, with defender Theo Hernandez and forward Rafael Leao scoring in the second half.
Como shocked Milan on the hour when new signing Assane Diao's low shot inside the near post beat Milan keeper Mike Maignan.
Hernandez levelled for Milan in the 71st minute with a volley from close range before Leao lobbed Como keeper Jean Butez to put the visitors in front five minutes later.
Milan, who beat Juventus and Inter Milan to lift the Italian Super Cup last week, provisionally moved up to seventh on 31 points. They were winless in four of their previous five league games.
Milan were unable to break the deadlock in the first half against a resilient Como side.
Coach Sergio Conceicao made a triple change at halftime, replacing the booked Alvaro Morata and Ismail Bennacer as well as Christian Pulisic, who suffered a knock in the first half. Tammy Abraham, Alex Jimenez and Yunus Musah came on for the trio.
But things went from bad to worse for Milan, who went a goal down after an hour when midfielder Maxence Caqueret found Diao on the right flank with a neat pass from the centre of the pitch.
The 19-year-old, who arrived last week from LaLiga side Real Betis, struck from inside the box for his first Serie A goal.
That fired up Milan and Hernandez equalised after tucking away a rebound following a corner.
The France defender has now scored 30 goals in Serie A, becoming the first AC Milan defender to reach this tally and overtaking Paolo Maldini with 29.
Leao then latched onto a low pass by Abraham to convert from the edge of the box and seal the three points.
Milan, who still have a game in hand over most teams in the table after their October fixture at Bologna was postponed due to flooding in the region, next travel to Juventus on Saturday.
They will then hope to extend their four-game winning streak in the Champions League when they host Girona on Jan. 22.
Cesc Fabregas's Como side, who continue their battle to remain in the Italian top flight following their return last term after 21 years, are 16th with 19 points.
They were unbeaten in five of their previous six games, drawing 1-1 at fourth-placed Lazio in their last fixture.
(Reporting by Anita Kobylinska in GdanskEditing by Toby Davis)
