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.
More context
Timeline
- 1. Oct 2024: Mauricio Pochettino took charge of the U.S. men’s national team.
- 2. Nov 18, 2024: Christian Pulisic scored for the U.S. against Jamaica (last international goal before drought).
- 3. Dec 28, 2025: Pulisic’s last recorded club goal for AC Milan.
- 4. Late March 2026: U.S. lost 5-2 to Belgium in an international friendly.
- 5. Immediately after: U.S. lost 2-0 to Portugal; Pulisic’s international drought reached eight games and continued roster evaluations.
Why it matters
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.
Sources
JQJO Editorial Desk · Human reviewed · AI assisted. Report a correction.