USMNT fell in their final group match, but Christian Pulisic made a welcome return.
USMNT’s ‘golden boy’ started on the bench for their Group D finale against Turkey, which they would lose 3-2.
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Pulisic had been battling a left calf injury he sustained during their World Cup opener against Paraguay.
He did not play in the convincing 2-0 win over Australia, but returned for the Turkey match.
Pulisic entered the game in the 58th minute with the score tied at two.
When the fourth official flashed the No. 10 on the screen, the crowd erupted in a roar that shook the building. It was a collective expression of relief more than anything.
The AC Milan star created two chances within five minutes, launching a left-footed curler wide from 20 years out, and the second which tested goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir.
Pulisic reminded everyone just how invaluable he is to USMNT, and his intense play riled up Turkish defender Ozan Kabak.
After a physical, contested sequence where the two players tangled up, frustration boiled over.
Pulisic and Kabak argued aggressively before teammates and the referee stepped in to separate them.
It would be Kabak and Turkey who would have the last laugh.
Just seconds away from finishing the group stages unbeaten, Arda Guler nutmegged Pulisic to help set up Kaan Ayhan’s winner in stoppage time.
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Pulisic ‘feeling good’ after appearing in final Group match
There were nine changes in all from the team that started in last Friday’s win over Australia to clinch top spot in Group D.
One of those changes was in goal, with Matt Turner getting the start over Matthew Freese, the goalkeeping situation has been highlighted as USMNT’s biggest question marks heading into the Round of 32.
After Pulisic trained separately from the rest of the squad, he reunited with his teammates but admitted he wasn’t ready to complete a full 90 minutes.
After the game, he gave USMNT fans the best possible news they could have asked for.
“I felt healthy, I felt good, so it was really nice to be back with the team and get some minutes,” Pulisic told Fox, via ESPN.
“I felt good, I felt good with the ball. It was a tough way to end for us for sure, but at the end of the day, we win the group, and we just have to look forward to next week.”
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Next up for Mauricio Pochettino’s men is Bosnia and Herzegovina, who advanced by finishing third in Group B.
The US remain on the West Coast, and will move just along the Pacific to the home of the San Francisco 49ers to take on the European nation in Santa Clara on July 1.
Despite the defeat the return of Pulisic will be pleasing for Pochettino
“Christian Pulisic came back from a calf injury with 30 minutes of action and immediately offered a burst of energy,” eSPORTY’s USMNT correspondent reported from Los Angeles after the game.
Coming to America
“He looks fully fit within almost seconds of coming on, he broke down the left-hand side and he had one shot that was saved and Aronson really should have put in the rebound.
“You can just tell that the rhythm, the momentum, the feel-good factor, even the home crowd when Pulisic is on the pitch, everything just goes up a gear.
“Naturally still going to be really important and he could be so important.”
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