Borussia Dortmund's Christian Pulisic scores historic USA goal before going off injured against Chile
Borussia Dortmund's Christian Pulisic became the youngest American to reach 10 international goals before going off with a right thigh injury in the USA's friendly draw with Chile on Tuesday.
Pulisic broke the deadlock in the fourth minute at the BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston, running onto a pass from Gyasi Zardes and dinking over Chile goalkeeper Gabriel Arias from just inside the penalty area. He reached the 10-goal mark at the age of 20 years and 189 days, breaking the record for youngest to 10 US goals previously held by Jozy Altidore (20 years and 337 days).
The Dortmund star, who has won 24 senior international caps since being handed his debut by Jürgen Klinsmann on 30 March 2016, already holds records as the youngest US player to appear in and start a FIFA World Cup qualifying match, and youngest to score and grab a brace for the USMNT.
Watch: Christian Pulisic's top 3 Bundesliga goals
Pulisic's strike against Chile was his first under new USA coach Gregg Berhalter, and his first for his country since the October 2017 defeat to Trinidad & Tobago that ended the Stars and Stripes' hopes of qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup - but his night was cut short when he was forced to exit the game in the 36th minute with a thigh strain. He appeared close to tears in the dugout as he held an ice pack to the affected area, though was able to leave the field of play at half time without it.
The problem isn't thought to be serious, but it does throw doubt on Pulisic's participation in Dortmund's home game against Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga this weekend. Title candidates BVB are second in the current standings behind defending champions Bayern Munich, who they face in Der Klassiker on 6 April.
Pulisic's injury was the second to a Bundesliga-based USA player during the March friendlies, after Schalke’s Weston McKennie ruptured an ankle ligament in the 1-0 victory against Ecuador last Thursday. McKennie has been ruled out for "several weeks".
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