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INGLEWOOD, Ca. — The energy changed at SoFi Stadium after 58 minutes of Thursday's World Cup match between the U.S. men's national team and Turkey.
Christian Pulisic, who missed the USMNT's last match with a calf injury, entered as a sub, drawing a huge roar from the sellout crowd.
The match was tied 2-2 at the time and after Pulisic came on, it looked every bit like the USMNT was going to find a winner.
The USMNT's star player was immediately at a different level than his teammates, racing past defenders and putting pressure on the Turkish defense with his dynamism. He raced in on goal and had a shot saved. The rebound bounced to Brenden Aaronson, who should have scored.
Pulisic then hit the post off a deflected effort, later curling a shot just wide. If the USMNT was going to find a goal, it was likely going to come from its talisman.
"Just having him come into the game, he makes such a difference," Aaronson said after the game. "Attention goes to him, so other guys can have chances and stuff like that. He was electric as always."
Ultimately though, Pulisic did not inspire the U.S. to a third straight win in the group stage. It was Turkey instead that found a late winner, as Kaan Ayhan scored with literally the last kick of the game to give the visitors a 3-2 victory.
The good news for the USMNT, though, is that Pulisic being fit is probably a more significant development from this game than the loss.
That's the luxury that winning your first two group games, thereby clinching first place before the third game even kicks off, can afford.
Because the U.S. didn't really need Pulisic against Turkey. It will need him badly for its next game, a round of 32 meeting with Bosnia and Herzegovina. Based on what we saw Thursday, he is ready.
"I felt healthy. I felt good," Pulisic told Fox after the game. "So it was really nice to be back with the team and get some minutes. I felt good. I felt good with the ball."
The pressure on Pulisic and the USMNT heading into the knockout phase will be huge. After all of the good vibes that came from the team's opening two wins, a loss against Bosnia would be nothing short of disastrous.
Luckily, the team's star looks ready.
"You saw his quality, and you saw when he came in, the impact he had," Sebastian Berhalter said after the game. "He's our guy."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Christian Pulisic back to his best in USA World Cup loss to Turkey
Continue reading...
Christian Pulisic, who missed the USMNT's last match with a calf injury, entered as a sub, drawing a huge roar from the sellout crowd.
The match was tied 2-2 at the time and after Pulisic came on, it looked every bit like the USMNT was going to find a winner.
The USMNT's star player was immediately at a different level than his teammates, racing past defenders and putting pressure on the Turkish defense with his dynamism. He raced in on goal and had a shot saved. The rebound bounced to Brenden Aaronson, who should have scored.
Pulisic then hit the post off a deflected effort, later curling a shot just wide. If the USMNT was going to find a goal, it was likely going to come from its talisman.
"Just having him come into the game, he makes such a difference," Aaronson said after the game. "Attention goes to him, so other guys can have chances and stuff like that. He was electric as always."
Ultimately though, Pulisic did not inspire the U.S. to a third straight win in the group stage. It was Turkey instead that found a late winner, as Kaan Ayhan scored with literally the last kick of the game to give the visitors a 3-2 victory.
The good news for the USMNT, though, is that Pulisic being fit is probably a more significant development from this game than the loss.
That's the luxury that winning your first two group games, thereby clinching first place before the third game even kicks off, can afford.
Because the U.S. didn't really need Pulisic against Turkey. It will need him badly for its next game, a round of 32 meeting with Bosnia and Herzegovina. Based on what we saw Thursday, he is ready.
"I felt healthy. I felt good," Pulisic told Fox after the game. "So it was really nice to be back with the team and get some minutes. I felt good. I felt good with the ball."
The pressure on Pulisic and the USMNT heading into the knockout phase will be huge. After all of the good vibes that came from the team's opening two wins, a loss against Bosnia would be nothing short of disastrous.
Luckily, the team's star looks ready.
"You saw his quality, and you saw when he came in, the impact he had," Sebastian Berhalter said after the game. "He's our guy."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Christian Pulisic back to his best in USA World Cup loss to Turkey
Continue reading...
