The Wunderkind struck again — twice.
Eighteen-year-old Christian Pulisic bagged a brace to lead the United States to a crucial 2-0 win over Trinidad and Tobago on Thursday at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colo., on Matchday 5 of the Hexagonal in CONCACAF 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifying.
The Borussia Dortmund midfielder opened the scoring in the 52nd minute on a sliding effort off a feed from former Seattle Sounders defender and current Newcastle man DeAndre Yedlin. Pulisic doubled the U.S.’ lead in the 65th after combining on a lovely give-and-go with forward Jozy Altidore and coolly slotting the ball in at the near post.
Sounders forward Clint Dempsey started and went 61 minutes before being replaced by Kellyn Acosta. Fellow Sounder Joevin Jones started at left wing for Trinidad and Tobago and went 68 minutes. U.S. and Sounders striker Jordan Morris was on the matchday roster but did not play.
The U.S. are 2-2-1 and are in third place in the Hex with seven points. Honduras, Mexico, Panama and Costa Rica play at 7 p.m. PT. T&T are in last place with three points from the first five matches.
The United States will take on Mexico on Sunday at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City at 5:30 p.m. PT, while Trinidad will visit Costa Rica on June 13.