KANSAS CITY, Kan. – The Christian Pulisic hype train just hit full steam on a straightaway downhill grade. Get in the way at your own peril.
The 17-year-old Borussia Dortmund wunderkind became the US men’s national team’s youngest goalscorer of the modern era on Saturday night, with a cool far-post finish Darlington Nagbe's cross from close range for the Yanks' final tally in a 4-0 victory over Bolivia.
What a moment! 17-year-old Christian Pulisic becomes the youngest goalscorer in #USMNT history. #USAvBOLhttps://t.co/c7r0L6dt8m
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) May 29, 2016
Pulisic's 69th-minute score, which put an exclamation point on the team's last shakedown friendly before Copa America Centenario play begins next Friday against Colombia (9:30 pm ET, FS1), drew the loudest cheers of the night from the crowd of 8,894 at Children's Mercy Park.
“It's pretty unbelievable,” he told reporters afterward. To finally play for my country and then score a goal, it's amazing. I didn't know I was the youngest. That's cool. That's a cool stat, I guess. I'm proud.”
Pulisic, who came on as a 63rd-minute sub for Gyasi Zardes, who had two goals himself, doesn't plan to dwell on the historic significance of his accomplishment, though.
“I'm just living life,” he said. “I'm just kind of living in the moment, you know? It's cool. Stats and stuff are cool, but I want to win this tournament coming up with this team, and that's the overall goal.”
During his post-match news conference, US coach Jurgen Klinsmann praised Pulisic's focus in the face of all the expectations placed on him by fans hungry for a young scoring threat.
“I think he's a wonderful kid,” Klinsmann said. “He's grounded. He knows that he has a long way to go, but he has no fear – and this is very important, not having fear, especially when you play in our region and it becomes really physical. What you're going to see next Friday will be very, very physical.
“So we obviously have an eye on him. I'm not worried about his process. We take it one day at a time.”
Pulisic entered as a like-for-like replacement for Zardes on the wing, but wound up taking a more central role as his shift progressed.
“Coach just wanted me to play there toward the end of the game, and so that's what happened,” he said. “I'm not sure exactly where I'll be in the future.”
Wherever he plays, and for how long, Pulisic is just anxious to get Copa competition going.
“I think a goal always brings confidence up, so I'm feeling great right now,” he said. “But I've always tried to be confident, no matter what happens.”
Steve Brisendine covers soccer in Kansas City for MLSsoccer.com.
