United States winger Christian Pulisic was substituted at halftime during his team’s World Cup opener against Paraguay on Friday, as the Americans led 3-0 at the break at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
After the match, Pulisic reported that he was kicked in the back of his left calf but expressed optimism that the injury wasn’t serious.
“I just received a kick in the first half, so I’m really hopeful it’s nothing major,” Pulisic stated. “I’m being cautious today, but I’m optimistic I’ll be fine in a few days.”
“It’s just the back of my leg, around my calf. I’ve had similar experiences before, so I’m staying positive and don’t think it’s anything significant.”
Pulisic showcased his skills throughout the first half, helping to force an own goal for the USMNT’s opening score and assisting Folarin Balogun for the team’s second goal.
Balogun added another goal, putting the U.S. up 3-0 at halftime. However, when the teams returned for the second half, Sebastian Berhalter took Pulisic’s place.
Following the game, U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino explained that the substitution was mainly precautionary, mentioning that Pulisic had been kicked in the calf during a training session just two days prior.
“He got a kick in the calf, and by the end of the first half, he started to feel tightness, so we didn’t want to take any risks,” Pochettino noted. “He was having difficulty walking. However, we hope it’s not a serious issue and that he can be ready for the next match.”
Paraguay managed to score in the second half, but Giovanni Reyna sealed the game for the U.S. with a goal just before the final whistle, bringing the score to a 4-1 victory for the Americans.
A lively crowd in Southern California arrived early to support the U.S. team, which has high expectations for this tournament co-hosted by three nations. They witnessed a historic first half, as the U.S. led by three goals, marking the first time in team history that they achieved such a feat in a World Cup.
Balogun’s two goals were significant as well, being the first instance of a U.S. player scoring multiple goals in a World Cup match since Bert Patenaude’s hat trick in 1930.
The U.S. will face Australia in Seattle on June 19, followed by a match back at SoFi Stadium against Türkiye on June 25 to conclude Group D play.
Information from The Associated Press was included in this report.