Pulisic remains scoreless as USMNT lose key friendly
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ATLANTA — The United States lost 2-0 to Portugal on Tuesday as Mauricio Pochettino’s experimental lineup conceded goals to Francisco Trincão (37th) and João Félix (59th); Pochettino said small details cost the team while Christian Pulisic, moved to striker, remained scoreless. The result, following a prior 5-2 loss to Belgium this window, extended Pulisic’s international drought and intensified roster evaluation; Pochettino and staff said they will continue tactical testing and review player minutes and positional data ahead of final World Cup selections.
Prepared by Emily Rhodes and reviewed by editorial team.
Timeline of Events
- Oct 2024: Mauricio Pochettino took charge of the U.S. men’s national team.
- Nov 18, 2024: Christian Pulisic scored for the U.S. against Jamaica (last international goal before drought).
- Dec 28, 2025: Pulisic’s last recorded club goal for AC Milan.
- Late March 2026: U.S. lost 5-2 to Belgium in an international friendly.
- Immediately after: U.S. lost 2-0 to Portugal; Pulisic’s international drought reached eight games and continued roster evaluations.
News Intelligence
- If you're a soccer fan, Pulisic's scoring drought is concerning. As the U.S. team's star player, his performance affects our World Cup chances. Keep an eye on his club games with AC Milan. A goal there could boost his confidence.
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Coaching staff benefit from extended evaluation time to test formations and player roles before final World Cup roster decisions.
Christian Pulisic and the USMNT suffered reputational and performance pressure as Pulisic’s goal drought continued through key pre-World Cup friendlies.
Coverage of Story:
From Left
Christian Pulisic's U.S. goal drought continues, but he maintains 'things are gonna click'
The New York TimesFrom Center
Pulisic remains scoreless as USMNT lose key friendly
ESPN.com The News-Gazette Jefferson City News Tribune ESPN.comFrom Right
No right-leaning sources found for this story.
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