Charlotte, June 1: Relief could be seen on Christian Pulisic’s face as he sidestepped goalkeeper Mory Diaw and buried a shot into the net for a first-half goal.
“Now maybe we can stop talking about it,” Pulisic said later.The drought, that is.Pulisic had a goal and an assist as he ended a five-month scoreless streak for club and country in a confidence-building 3-2 US win over Senegal on Sunday, the Americans’ next-to-last World Cup warmup before their June 12 opener.
America’s top player finished his AC Milan season scoreless in a career-high 19 club games since December 28 and was without a goal eight straight U.S. matches since November 2024.
“I felt this confidence, like I have played really well in recent months, but all everyone seems to want to worry about is goals. so hopefully we can stop talking about it,” Pulisic said.“We have games ahead and I have to be ready.” Pulisic’s goal seemed like an emotional relief, as if weight had been lifted off the shoulders of the 27-year-old.
“We are all happy for him and we didn’t doubt him for a second,” said midfielder Weston McKennie, who has known Pulisic since he was 13.
“People that don’t know him may not know his abilities or what he is capable of.” Alex Freeeman side-footed a pass ahead of a streaking Ricardo Pepi down the right flank. Pepi ran onto the ball and took a touch, then perfectly weighted a pass into the penalty area ahead of a streaking Pulisic.
Pulisic took a touch, rounded Diaw and slotted into an open net with his right foot from a tight angle for his 33rd goal in 85 international appearances.
He pumped his fists downward as he ran toward toward the corner flag, He first threw a fist in the air. Then he slid to both knees and repeatedly pumped tightly-closed fists in raw emotion.
Was it a relief?“Yeah,” said Pulisic, who played just the first half.“I think you could see it my reaction.” US coach Mauricio Pochettino had predicted last week that the drought would come to an end in the World Cup.
“The performance of Christian, for 45 minutes, was really, really good,” Pochettino said.“He still has the potential to improve. But I think it is the way that he is training from day one. How way he played for 45 minutes was the habits that he created last week. Every day training with this attitude, with this commitment, with this energy. I think now we need to try to extend (it) until 90 minutes.“I am happy for him also because after a long time, a few months, he scored again. Obviously, that is important for our players in the preparation to the World Cup.” Pulisic said he was more excited about the outcome of the match. (AP)
