AC Milan out of Champions League after inexplicable Theo Hernandez red card

 Christian Pulisic and Yunus Musah saw their Champions League dreams go up in smoke Tuesday, as 10-man AC Milan crashed out of this year's competition after France defender Theo Hernández was sent off in embarrassing circumstances.

Feyenoord dumped the Rossoneri out of European competition 2-1 on aggregate after securing a 1-1 second-leg result, and with Milan sitting seventh in Serie A, it is looking like another season of frustration for the U.S. men's national team duo at club level.

The story of the day, and likely one discussed around Milan for the next few months, will be Hernández's ill-advised pair of yellow cards. A first-half booking over a shove following a foul at midfield was avoidable, while the France defender's clear dive inside the box early in the second half was beyond explanation.

It all started off so well. Manager Sérgio Conceição chose a very attacking starting 11, and that aggression resulted in an immediate lead. Santiago Giménez forced a corner virtually straight from the kickoff, and would — following Pulisic's cross — eventually nod the ball over the line from close range.

Despite the importance of this match to Milan's season, Pulisic was seen as a fitness doubt, with reports on Monday claiming that he would start on the bench. Musah — who missed the first leg after an inexplicable red card of his own in the Rossoneri's final group-stage match — was Conceição's choice as the most conservative member of a midfield trio, replacing Youssouf Fofana.

Milan continued to dominate from there, but couldn't find the critical second goal. Still, everything seemed set: the Rossoneri had the home crowd at the San Siro engaged, the chances were coming, and Feyenoord seemed to have little answer other than hanging on for dear life.

Instead, one of the most experienced players on the field would hand the visitors a gift. Hernández's first card was silly, but his second came just as Milan seemed to have brushed aside whatever adjustments Feyenoord made at halftime. A 51st minute dive was obvious on replay, leaving referee Szymon Marciniak little choice but to dismiss Hernández, reducing Milan to 10 men.

Musah shifted to left back in the immediate aftermath, but returned to the midfield after Pulisic was substituted in the 63rd minute.

However, Feyenoord sensed the weakness, as Milan's earlier confidence vanished. Pascal Bosschart, just eight days into an interim stint managing the Rotterdam club, sent former Philadelphia Union striker Julián Carranza into the fray, and the Argentine rewarded him by heading home Hugo Bueno's 73rd minute cross.

Just like that, Feyenoord had regained the aggregate lead.

The result leaves Milan in deep trouble for the rest of this season. The Rossoneri trail league-leading Napoli by 15 points in Serie A, and are five points off the pace to qualify for next season's Champions League.

Despite Pulisic's personal success and Musah's growth into a more regular role, Milan's only real shot at a trophy in the 2024-25 campaign is the Coppa Italia. The Rossoneri have qualified for the semifinals, where two legs against either Inter or Lazio await in April.