Christian Pulisic was injured scoring the lone goal of a 1-0 win over Iran as the United States men’s national team advanced to the World Cup’s Round of 16 on Tuesday.
WATCH IRAN vs USA FULL MATCH REPLAY
Fortunately for the USMNT, his exit from the match did not stop the Yanks from delivering a spot in the knockout rounds.
While the attack sputtered without him, the defenders and midfielders largely stepped into the fold as Yunus Musah and Co. helped Matt Turner keep a second clean sheet in three games.
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Iran vs USA player ratings out of 10
Matt Turner: 6.5 -- Some nervy moments late but the Arsenal backup again showed command of his box even when his body didn’t follow-through on good decisions.
Antonee Robinson: 9 -- There’s an argument to be made that “Jedi” was the player of the round for the USMNT. He made a few rescue tackles and crosses from the left were few and far between.
Tim Ream: 8 -- Quick, someone ask the coach if the guy who played every minute of the group stage is now a good fit for his system.
Cameron Carter-Vickers: 7 -- Terrific when the U.S. had the ball and mostly good at the back, too. Is a good fit as a RCB in the back three, if that’s something Berhalter pulls out again.
Sergino Dest (Off 82'): 9 -- While Pulisic’s goal was the moment of the game and Musah delivered several other moments, the fullbacks were the story of the entirety. Dest’s assist was massive, too (obviously).
Tyler Adams: 8 -- He rarely has bad games in a USMNT shirt, and there’s a reason he has the captain’s arm band when most teams would’ve automatically allocated it to Pulisic.
Yunus Musah: 8.5 -- It’s fair to say the U.S. hasn’t had as a complete a midfield duo in Musah and Adams in two decades, if not longer. Musah was monstrous
Weston McKennie (Off 65'): 6.5 --Still working his way to match sharpness over the hour-plus, and you can pen him in for a start and a sub in every game the rest of the way.
Tim Weah (Off 82'): 7.5 -- The team’s second-biggest threat, could’ve had this match salted away at the hour mark with a hat trick on another day.
Josh Sargent (On 75'): 7 -- Yeoman’s work from the Norwich City man, who limped off after landing awkwardly on the ball.
Christian Pulisic (Off HT): 8 -- Scoring a round-clinching goal in a World Cup game is a really good way to cement your status in a national team program. His abdominal injury required a precautionary trip to the hospital. Fingers are crossed. So are toes. And any new appendages that might evolve.
Subs
Brenden Aaronson (On HT): 7 -- A busy boy in his half, had Iran just as enraged as he’s had Premier League opponents
Kellyn Acosta (On 65'): 6.5 -- Job done.
Haji Wright (On 75'): 6.5 -- See above.
Walker Zimmerman (On 82'): 8 -- A goal-line clearance and all the aerials duels you knew would be won when he was plugged into the lineup, were won. Three clearances in 10-plus minutes.
Shaq Moore (On 82'): 6 -- Wyd, Gregg? Moore’s only job should’ve been to shut down crosses. He didn’t.
