Christian Pulisic set up the lone goal of Dortmund’s victory in the ICC. (Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports)
CHICAGO — An attacking player doesn’t have to score to make an impact in a game.
Case in point:
One Christian Pulisic.
The U.S. international and Borussia Dortmund midfielder was fouled by Manchester City’s Oleksandr Zinchenko in the 27th minute of their International Champions Cup match at Soldier Field Friday night.
Dortmund was awarded a penalty kick and Mario Gotze converted in what turned into the lone goal of the opening match of the annual summer competition.
Pulisic’s performance drew praise from new Dortmund coach Lucien Favre, say that the 19-year-old “played extremely well today.
“He knows exactly when he has to accelerate, which he showed three or four times today,” Favre said in a postgame press conference. “His dribbling on the right wing was superb. He has a lot of ambition and is still very young. He’s a very good player.”
Pulisic was replaced at halftime but there might have been a good reason for it. Dortmund will face Liverpool in Charlotte, N.C. for another match Sunday (ESPN, 4:05 p.m. ET).