AC Milan Come From Behind to Beat Como 2-1 and Boost Top-Four Hopes

AC Milan recovered from a goal down to beat Como 2-1, thanks to goals from Theo Hernandez and Rafael Leao, boosting their top-four hopes in Serie A.

AC Milan strengthened their top-four aspirations in Serie A with a hard-fought 2-1 comeback victory over Como 1907, extending their unbeaten streak against the Biancoblu to 13 matches. The Rossoneri's win comes as a welcome relief after a frustrating 1-1 draw with struggling Cagliari in their previous outing.

AC Milan manager Sergio Conceicao faces a challenging task in propelling his team up the Serie A table, and this match against Como 1907 was crucial in their pursuit of a top-four finish. Como, who are also battling relegation, aimed to secure their third consecutive home win, having recently gained confidence from back-to-back 2-0 victories over Roma and Leece.

The first half was evenly contested, with both teams creating scoring opportunities. Gabriel Strefezza's speculative strike forced AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maigan to make a low save at his near post. Meanwhile, Marc-Oliver Kempf headed wide from Lucas Da Cunha's free-kick, as the hosts sought to capitalize on their recent momentum and secure another home win.

AC Milan looked to their star player Rafael Leao to spark their attack, and he delivered with two quick chances for Tijjani Reijnders and Alvaro Morata. However, both opportunities were thwarted by Como's debutant goalkeeper Jean Butez, who made crucial saves to deny the Rossoneri.

Seeking to inject new life into their attack, AC Milan manager Sergio Conceicao made a triple substitution at halftime, introducing Alex Jimenez, Yunus Musah, and Tammy Abraham. While Jimenez showed promise after coming on, it was the hosts who broke the deadlock. Assane Diao, making his home debut, scored his first goal for Como with a brilliant left-footed strike past Mike Maignan at his near post.

At just 19 years and 129 days old, Diao became the youngest foreign player to score for Como in Serie A. The assist for Diao's goal came from Maxence Caqueret, who made his debut for Como and provided a precise pass from midfield. However, Como's lead was short-lived, as AC Milan equalized just over 10 minutes later. Theo Hernandez scored with a left-footed volley after Como failed to clear a Milan corner, sparking a defensive scramble that ultimately led to the equalizing goal.

In a milestone moment, Theo Hernandez became AC Milan's highest-scoring defender in Serie A history, netting his 30th goal to surpass Paolo Maldini's record of 29. Hernandez's achievement marked a turning point in the match, as AC Milan took the lead and never looked back.

The Rossoneri sealed their victory when Rafael Leao added their second goal, showcasing his skill with a delightful, dinked finish over the goalkeeper, after latching onto Tammy Abraham's perfectly weighted through ball. Como pushed to get back into the game, but Patrick Cutrone's attempt was thwarted by a fine save from Mike Maignan at his near post.

AC Milan's hard-fought win earned them three crucial points, moving them within five points of fourth-placed Lazio. Conversely, the defeat saw Como drop to 16th in the standings, leaving them just a single point clear of the relegation zone. The loss will be a concern for Como, who are now under increasing pressure to avoid the drop.