In his first game since the March FIFA window, U.S. Men's National Team attacker Christian Pulisic scored for Chelsea against West Bromwich Albion on Saturday morning at Stamford Bridge.
After Pulisic was fouled some 28 yards out in the 27th minute, Marcos Alonso drilled a free kick that bounded off the right post and straight into the path of the American, who tucked it into the lower right corner from five yards away.
TO THE TAPE! 🎥@cpulisic_10 puts home the rebound after Marcos Alonso's free kick comes back off the post.
— U.S. Soccer MNT (@USMNT) April 3, 2021
It's #CP10's second goal of the @premierleague season and 11th career strike in @PLinUSA! 🇺🇸
(@NBCSportsSoccer) pic.twitter.com/2KDWzgOQmq
It was the 22-year-old Pulisic's first goal under new coach Thomas Tuchel and also his first since scoring in a 3-1 win over Leeds United on Dec. 20. He has two goals in league play for the Blues this season and 11 all-time in Premier League play.
The tide swung against Chelsea just two minutes after the goal when Chelsea defender Thiago Silva was shown a second yellow card, pushing the home side down to 10 men. Chelsea gave up two goals before halftime and Pulisic was set to start the second half, but Tuchel confirmed in his post-game press conference that U.S. attacker tweaked his hamstring coming back out for the second half and was replaced by England international Mason Mount.
West Brom struck twice more on the other side of halftime and though Mount pulled one back for Chelsea, West Brom added another in stoppage time as the Blues went down in a 5-2 defeat. There is no word yet on the extent of Pulisic's injury.
Pulisic got back on the scoresheet after a pair of strong performances for the USA during the break. He earned Man of Match honors, captaining the USMNT and converting a penalty kick in a 2-1 victory at Northern Ireland on March 28, following a 4-1 win over Jamaica in Austria on March 25.
BEHIND THE CREST: Pulisic, USMNT Sweep March FIFA Window in Europe