United States winger Christian Pulisic was substituted at halftime of his team’s World Cup opener against Paraguay on Friday, with the Americans leading 3-0 at the break at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
After the match, Pulisic told reporters he was kicked in the back of his left calf and that he didn’t believe it was anything serious.
“I just got a bit of a kick first half, so I’m really hoping that it’s nothing,” Pulisic said. “Taking a little bit of precaution today, but I’m hoping I’ll be fine the next few days.
“Just the back of my leg, my calf area. But I’ve had similar things before and I’m staying positive. I don’t think it’s anything at all.”
Pulisic had been dynamic throughout the opening half, knifing through the Paraguay defense to help force an own goal for the USMNT’s first and setting up Folarin Balogun for the team’s second.
Balogun scored one more to give the U.S. a 3-0 lead at the half, but when the teams took the field to start the second half, Sebastian Berhalter came on for Pulisic.
After the game, U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino said the move was largely precautionary and that Pulisic was already kicked in the calf during a training session two days ago.
“He got a kick in the calf and at the end of the first half he started to feel tight and we didn’t want to take any risks,” Pochettino said. “It was difficult for him to walk. But [we] hope that it’s not a big issue and he can be ready for the next one.”
Paraguay scored in the second half, but Giovanni Reyna scored just before the final whistle to restore the three-goal lead as a composed U.S. side saw out the match for a 4-1 win.
A jubilant Southern California crowd arrived early to cheer on an American team with high hopes heading into the final home opener for this tournament’s three co-hosting nations. And they were treated to a World Cup record half by the U.S. as it led by three at the half for the first team in team history.
Balogun’s pair of goals also marked the first time a U.S. player had scored multiple goals in a World Cup game since Bert Patenaude scored a hat trick in 1930.
The U.S. plays Australia in Seattle on June 19 before finishing Group D play back at SoFi Stadium on June 25 against Türkiye.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
