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Christian Pulisic is only 18 years old, but he’s already the best player on the United States senior national team. Dortmund fans have known his talent and promise for a while, and now the entire world is waking up to the phenom that Pulisic is.
Last night he continued his takeover of world football. The US took on Trinidad & Tobago in World Cup Qualifying in Denver, and Pulisic was the star of the show. The USMNT won 2-0, with both goals being scored by BVB’s talented young American.
Here are goals #6 and #7 of his senior international career:
Nagbe with the surge, Yedlin with the cross, Pulisic with the finish. #USAvTRI https://t.co/uGFJxcWOPc
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) June 9, 2017
DeAndre Yedlin does a lot of the work on the first one, but again Pulisic has a goalscorers instinct to be in the right place at the right time. Yedlin’s cross isn’t as good if Pulisic doesn’t have the intuition to make a run right at goal to actually finish it off.
.@JozyAltidore to @cpulisic_10. Beautiful. #USAvTRI https://t.co/qkYwa2ZzGv
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) June 9, 2017
On the second goal, once again, Pulisic knows exactly when to make his run. He sees Michael Bradley and Jozy Altidore combine well, pushes forward on the back line, and luckily Jozy’s pass is timed well enough to play him through onside. Then, with the form he’s in, you know he’s going to put the ball in the back of the net.
Also, his celebrations have improved noticeably. No more dabbing!
Pulisic’s confidence is so high that after the game he guaranteed that the USMNT would beat Mexico in Mexico City on Sunday.
Christian Pulisic is feeling pretty confident going into Azteca. #USMNT pic.twitter.com/zbzJatgl2o
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 9, 2017
It’s a very bold prediction, considering the US have only beaten Mexico once in the Azteca. But Pulisic is clearly feeling good right now.
And yes, Trinidad & Tobago aren’t very good. But this was still a crucial must-win game for the US, and he’s still an 18-year-old beating up on grown men on a daily basis. We shouldn’t take him for granted because he is so consistently remarkable.
If he scores a brace against Mexico we’re going to freak out even more. This kid’s future looks more promising every time he takes the field.