Christian Pulisic gave his body for his country when the goal that advanced the United States to the World Cup crashed over the goalkeeper and Pulisic’s 38th-minute goal gave Iran a 1-0 win. A meeting that took place a quarter of a century ago. The American star was substituted early in the second half and taken to hospital for an abdominal scan, the US Soccer Federation said. Pulisic scored and lay in goal for about three minutes while he was treated. American employees. He tried to continue playing, but he was changed and later taken to the hospital. Back at the World Cup after missing the 2018 tournament, the USA opened with draws against Wales and England and needed a win to reach the round of 16. The Americans finished second. With five points in Group B, two behind England, they play the Netherlands on Saturday with a chance to reach the quarter-finals for the first time since 2002. “I always say it’s us against the world,” frontman Tim Weah said. “No one believed America could play good soccer.” Iran finished third with three points. The team failed to progress in all six matches played in the World Cup. “The dream is over with this result,” Iran coach Carlos Queiroz said. “The US started the game much better than us, quicker with better control of the game.” There was a lot of tension surrounding the competition because of the relationship between the United States and Iran’s Islamic government. In the 1998 tournament in France, Iran famously defeated the USA 2-1, eliminating the Americans. Unlike the 1998 game, pregame etiquette was normal as the Iranians gave the Americans white flowers and the teams posed for a photo together. A crowd of 42,127 filled the lower bowl behind a goal at Al Thumama Stadium with horns and drums and were much louder than the red-white-and-blue American supporters at the other end and behind the American bench. The U.S. outscored Iran 9-0 in the first half, but Pulisic didn’t come up with the big moment that drove a growing and growing fan base back home. Weston McKenney lofted a pass past center. Sergino circles for Test on the edge of the 6-yard box. Test headed the ball with a bounce in front of the net as Pulcic rose up the center of the field past Ramin Rezayan and Majid Hosseiniand. Turning his body to land the ball on his right foot, Pulisic tapped in for his 22nd international goal and his first in a World Cup game. His momentum took him to goalkeeper Alireza Beirenwand and Pulisic had to help him to his feet before going in. “Obviously we’re very grateful that he threw his body out there,” McKenney said. “It was a heart-wrenching moment at the end, but we did it and we’re glad to still be here.” Weah, who scored the Americans’ goal in the opening 1-1 draw with Wales, nearly doubled his tally. took the lead in the seventh minute of first-half stoppage time, but was ruled offside. Pulisic was replaced by Brendan Aaronson early in the second half. With England ahead of Wales, Iran finally got their first shot if only a draw was needed to advance. In the 52nd minute, Saman Kodos headed past goalkeeper Matt Turner. Saeid Ezatolahi fired an open shot high and wide in the 70th, and Morteza Pouraliganji scored a diving header in the third minute of 9 minutes of stoppage time. -Vickers got a little hand on Mehdi Taremi. “I hope our fans and people in Iran will forgive us. I am sorry,” Taremi said. Video below: How the 2022 World Cup in Qatar is lined up For the first time in a World Cup, a European-based line-up will be in place. A young U.S. lineup at Heart averaged 24 years, 321 days, the youngest of any team in the tournament so far and the youngest at a World Cup for the Americans since 1990. Yunus Musa turns 20, the first American to appear in a World Cup match on his birthday. Looking ahead, the U.S. went 1-4 against the Netherlands in all friendlies and won 4-3 in Amsterdam in 2015.
Christian Pulisic gave his body for his country, smashing the goal that advanced the USA to the World Cup against the goalkeeper.
Pulisic’s 38th-minute goal lifted the United States to a 1-0 win over Iran on Tuesday in a politically charged rematch of their famous meeting a quarter-century ago. The US star was substituted early in the second half and taken to hospital for an abdominal scan, according to the US Soccer Federation.
Pulisic scored and while he received treatment from American staff, he was sprawled on the field and lay in goal for about three minutes. He tried to continue playing, but he was changed and later taken to the hospital.
Back at the World Cup after missing the 2018 tournament, the USA opened with draws against Wales and England and needed a win to reach the round of 16.
The Americans finished second in Group B with five points, two behind England, and will look to advance to the quarterfinals for the first time since 2002 against the Netherlands on Saturday.
“I always say it’s against the world,” Tim Weah said. “No one believed America could play good soccer.”
Iran finished third with three points. The team failed to progress in all 6 matches played in the World Cup.
“The dream is over with this result,” Iran coach Carlos Queiroz said. “The US started the game much better than us, quicker with better control of the game.”
Tensions surrounding the match were high due to strained relations between the United States and Iran’s Islamic government. In the 1998 tournament in France, Iran defeated the United States 2–1, eliminating the Americans.
Pregame etiquette was normal, unlike the 1998 game, when the teams posed for a group photo while the Iranians presented the Americans with white flowers.
A crowd of 42,127 filled the lower bowl behind a goal at Al Tumama Stadium, with horns and drums raucous Iranian fans were louder than the red-white-and-blue American supporters at the other end and behind the American bench.
The U.S. outscored Iran 9-0 in the first half, but didn’t break through until Pulisic came up with the big moment.
Weston McKenney lofted a pass to Sergino Test from the center circle on the edge of the 6-yard box. Test headed the ball with a bounce in front of the net as Pulcic rose up the center of the field past Ramin Rezaian and Majid Hosseiniand.
Turning his body to land the ball on his right foot, Pulisic tapped in for his 22nd international goal and his first in a World Cup game. His momentum took him to goalkeeper Alireza Beirenwand, and Pulisic had to be helped to his feet before going back inside.
“We’re very grateful that he threw his body out there,” McKenney said. “It was a heartbreaking moment at the end, but we did it and we’re happy to still be here.”
Weah, who scored in the Americans’ 1-1 draw with Wales in the opener, doubled the lead in the seventh minute of first-half stoppage time but was ruled offside.
Pulisic was replaced by Brendan Aaronson early in the second half.
With England ahead of Wales, Iran knew they only needed a draw to progress and finally in the 52nd minute Saman Kodos got the first shot at goalkeeper Matt Turner with a header over the crossbar. Saeid Ezatolahi fired an open shot high and wide in the 70th, and Morteza Pouraliganji scored a diving header in the third minute of 9 minutes of stoppage time. -Vickers gets a slight hand on Mehdi Taremi.
“I hope our fans and people in Iran will forgive us. I’m sorry,” Taremi said.
Video below: How the 2022 World Cup is structured in Qatar
Rows
Cameron Carter-Vickers, son of former NBA player Howard Carter, replaced Zimmerman in his World Cup debut and gave the U.S. a completely European-based lineup for the first time in a World Cup game.
Youth at heart
The U.S. lineup averaged 24 years, 321 days, the youngest of any team in the tournament so far and the youngest at a World Cup for the Americans since 1990. Yunus Musa turned 20, the first American to appear in a World Cup match.
Looking ahead
The U.S. is 1-4 against the Netherlands in all friendlies, overcoming a two-goal deficit to win 4-3 in Amsterdam in 2015.
