Christian Pulisic limps out of AC Milan match sparking new injury fears

MILAN (AP) — There are renewed injury concerns for Christian Pulisic after the United States international limped out of AC Milan’s match at Como on Tuesday.

Pulisic was forced off the pitch on the stroke of halftime, leaving Milan with 10 men for the final moments of the first period. He was replaced by Alejandro Jiménez for the second half.

The 26-year-old Pulisic went down after being caught on the ankle by Como defender Marc-Oliver Kempf. He immediately waved the medical staff over and appeared to be pointing to his left thigh.

His availability is unknown for Milan's match at Juventus on Saturday.

Pulisic had only just returned from injury — making his comeback in the Italian Super Cup, which Milan won. He had been out for nearly a month after tearing a muscle in his right calf and then sustaining a minor ankle issue.

Pulisic scored in both the semifinal and the final of the Italian Super Cup.

He has been one of Milan’s top players this season with five goals and four assists in Serie A. He has also scored three goals in the Champions League.

Milan went on to win the match at Como 2-1.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

AC Milan's Christian Pulisic celebrates after scoring his sides second goal during the Italian Super Cup final soccer match between AC Milan and Inter Milan at Al Awwal Park Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Monday, Jan. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

AC Milan's Christian Pulisic, left, attempts a shot on goal during the Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Cagliari at the San Siro stadium, in Milan, Italy, Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

AC Milan's Christian Pulisic reacts after missing a chance to score during the Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Cagliari at the San Siro stadium, in Milan, Italy, Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

AC Milan's Christian Pulisic leaves the pitch after getting an injury during the Serie A soccer match between Como and Milan at the Giuseppe Sinigaglia stadium in Como, Italy, Sunday Jan. 14, 2025. (Antonio Saia/LaPresse via AP)

Como's Gabriel Strefezza, right, and AC Milan's Christian Pulisic in action during the Serie A soccer match between Como and Milan at the Giuseppe Sinigaglia stadium in Como, Italy, Sunday Jan. 14, 2025. (Antonio Saia/LaPresse via AP)

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — John Marino scored at 4:03 of the third period to break a tie and give the Utah Mammoth a 2-1 victory over the Dallas Stars on Thursday night.

Marino also assisted on Nick Schmaltz's 17th goal of the season and Karel Vejmelka made 26 stops as the Mammoth won for the fifth time in six games.

Mikko Rantanen scored and Jake Oettinger had 25 saves for Dallas, which has lost nine of its last 11 games.

Schmaltz broke a scoreless deadlock with 7 seconds left in the second period, tipping in a feed from Marino. It was the fourth latest goal in any regulation period in Utah's short franchise history.

The Mammoth nearly made it 2-0 just 38 seconds into the third, but Lawson Crouse had his goal wiped off the board for high-sticking.

Rantanen leveled the score with a power-play goal at the 2:04 of the third.

Marino answered two minutes later, snapping the puck home from long distance to put the Mammoth up 2-1 with his second winning goal of the season.

Utah improved to 16-1-1 this season when leading after two periods.

Stars: host Tampa Bay on Sunday.

Mammoth: host Seattle on Saturday.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Dallas Stars defenseman Kyle Capobianco, right, moves the puck against Utah Mammoth defenseman Sean Durzi during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Melissa Majchrzak)

Dallas Stars defenseman Thomas Harley (55) shoots the puck against Utah Mammoth goaltender Karel Vejmelka (70) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Melissa Majchrzak)

Dallas Stars center Wyatt Johnston, right, moves the puck against Utah Mammoth left wing Lawson Crouse during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Melissa Majchrzak)

Dallas Stars left wing Jason Robertson, center left, fights for the puck against Utah Mammoth defenseman John Marino (6) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Melissa Majchrzak)