Pulisic's Goal Drought Continues as USMNT Falls to Portugal

The United States men's national team (USMNT) suffered a 2-0 defeat against Portugal in a friendly match held at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. This loss marked the eighth consecutive defeat for the U.S. against European teams, extending their winless streak to ten matches since 2021. Portugal's Francisco Trincão opened the scoring in the 37th minute, followed by João Félix's goal in the 59th minute, both assisted by Bruno Fernandes. The U.S. struggled to convert their chances, with star player Christian Pulisic failing to score for the eighth consecutive national team match.

USMNT outclassed by Portugal as Pulisic's goal drought continues

Head coach Mauricio Pochettino made tactical changes to position Pulisic as a center forward, hoping to reignite his scoring ability. Despite receiving more passes than any other U.S. attacker in the first half and attempting seven ground duels, Pulisic was unable to find the back of the net. He was substituted at halftime after committing a couple of fouls and receiving a yellow card. This match extended Pulisic's goal drought to 15 games across all competitions, with his last goal for the national team dating back to November 2024.

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While Pulisic struggled, other players showed promise. Tim Weah emerged as a key attacker, making six progressive carries and delivering dangerous crosses. Malik Tillman created five chances during the match, although he only managed two shot attempts. Weston McKennie, who scored against Belgium in the previous match, had a turnover that led to Portugal's first goal. The U.S. attempted eight shots compared to Portugal's three, but their inability to convert chances proved costly.

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After the match, Pulisic expressed frustration but maintained a positive outlook, stating, "Physically, I feel really good... I have to help my team to create assists and score goals... Obviously when I don’t do that it’s frustrating, but I feel like I’m close." Pochettino acknowledged Pulisic's active involvement, noting, "It was a shame he didn’t score with the opportunities he had... but I think we were a little bit frustrated the whole game."

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Pochettino's comments regarding the lack of American players in the top 100 globally have sparked criticism, particularly as they coincide with Pulisic's ongoing struggles. Some analysts question whether Pulisic is losing his star power, especially with the World Cup approaching. The U.S. team is under pressure to perform, having been outscored 22-6 during their recent losing streak against European teams.

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The U.S. will face Senegal and Germany in upcoming friendlies on May 31 and June 6, respectively, before the World Cup begins on June 12 against Paraguay. Pochettino will announce his World Cup roster on May 26, and the team will be looking to regain confidence and form ahead of the tournament.

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