Christian Pulisic’s bravery the difference in World Cup’s Great Satan v Iran II

The Americans enter the business end of the tournament on a tailwind of confidence after the Chelsea player put his body on the line

It was never going to be easy. Then again, neither has the grinding pressure of being American soccer's chosen one. But when the right opportunity arrived, Christian Pulisic surrendered his body for his team and finally took hold of his signature moment on the international stage.

With the temperature of this geopolitical proxy war between the United States and Iran at the Middle East's first World Cup having risen to a boiling point, Pulisic turned the volume down with a goal the United States desperately had to have, making the difference in a tense and riveting win-or-go-home showdown for the Americans. When Sergino Dest directed a header toward goal off Weston McKennie's floated pass in the 38th minute, an onrushing Pulisic burst through a thicket of white shirts and struck home what proved to be the winner while barreling into the Iranian keeper. Pulisic then lay sprawled in the goalmouth for nearly four minutes.