Six weeks after becoming the youngest foreigner to score in the Bundesliga, 17-year-old Christian Pulisic became the youngest American in the modern era to score a goal for the national team.
Pulisic on Saturday capped the match by scoring in his third national team appearance, while Gyasi Zardes scored his first international brace as the US routed Bolivia 4-0 in an exhibition to sweep their three warm-up matches for next month’s Copa America Centenario.
“I am just living life in the moment,” Pulisic said. “It is cool stats and stuff, but I just want to win this tournament coming up.”
Photo: Gary Rohman,USA TODAY
Zardes scored in the 26th and 52nd minutes, either side of defender John Brooks’ goal in the 37th minute. Pulisic, who left his home in Hershey, Pennsylvania, to sign with Borussia Dortmund in January last year, connected in the 69th minute. At 17 years, 253 days, he bettered the mark set by Juan Agudelo — 17 years, 359 days — against South Africa in 2010.
“At such a young age, to get to score a goal for the senior team is quite special,” said US coach Jurgen Klinsmann, who was 23 years old when he scored his first goal for then-West Germany.
Pulisic made his Bundesliga debut on Jan. 30 and made 12 first-team appearances, scoring against Hamburg SV on April 17 and VfB Stuttgart six days later. He made his first US appearance as an 81st-minute substitute in a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Guatemala on March 29.
“The guys have taken me in. They are all really nice, and it has helped me a lot that I have been with them a few weeks now,” he said. “It is getting more and more comfortable. I am making more friends.”
Pulisic scored after Jermaine Jones forced a turnover. Jones exchanged passes with Darlington Nagbe, who ran past three Bolivians and rolled the ball into Pulisic’s path. The teenager slid the ball past goalkeeper Guillermo Viscarra’s from right of the penalty spot, causing many in the crowd of 8,894 to chant his name.
Pulisic is used to going against stronger, older opponents.
“It is just what I learned since I was a little kid. My dad taught me no matter what ... to just be myself,” he said. “I knew that I was good enough, that I had the ability, so I never shy away from any moment and I do not think anyone should.”
At the Copa America Centenario, the US play fourth-ranked Colombia on Friday in the opener in Santa Clara, California, then face Costa Rica four days later in Chicago and close the first round against Paraguay on June 11 in Philadelphia.
The 29th-ranked US had their largest victory margin against a South American nation, beat opponents from that continent in consecutive games for the first time and swept their three warm-up matches by a combined 8-1 after defeating Puerto Rico and Ecuador.
“I think our chemistry is really good,” Klinsmann said. “They realize that it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play this Copa America in the United States.”
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