There are very few players that are quite as clutch as Christian Pulisic when it comes to big game moments for their national side when it really matters. The Chelsea forward proved it yet again on Tuesday night as he scored the only goal in a tense affair with Iran in the final match of group B.
The match was a straight shootout between the two nations as the USMNT needed a victory to progress while their opponents needed to avoid defeat. If that wasn't enough to set the scene for a huge match, the underlying story was the political undertones from such a match up, while a social media post from the US led to calls for them to be kicked out of the competition.
It naturally created a cagey affair as a game of cat and mouse played out between two sides that had everything on the line in this match. That pattern would be broken just before the break as Pulisic gambled on a ball across from Sergino Dest to poke the ball home.
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While the 24-year-old scored a huge goal for his nation, he had some sacrifice to make sure they took the lead, taking a hit from a few flying bodies for his troubles. The forward stayed down for a while and by half-time, he couldn't continue and was replaced by Leeds' Brenden Aaronson.
While Pulisic's goal proved to be the decider that earned the USA a huge win and passage to the round of 16, there will have been some concern over his availability and injury. After being substituted, the winger was taken to hospital for a scan on his abdominal muscles.
While there will still be some concern over his availability, the match hero sent out a message with a picture via FOX that reads: "So proud of my guys, I'll be ready Saturday don't worry."
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