Christian Pulisic did not play for the U.S. due to a muscle injury. (FrontRowSoccer.com Photo)

By Michael Lewis

FrontRowSoccer.com Editor

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Given what an impact player he is, Christian Pulisic will always be a story whether he is with or not with the U.S. national team.

The best of the young Americans, the 19-year-old Pulisic is sidelined with a muscle injury he suffered with Borussia Dortmund and did not make the trip for the Fall Kickoff series that began with a 2-0 defeat to Brazil at MetLife Stadium Friday night.

“If we had Christian tonight, I can’t say we’d have the ball more 40 more percent of the time,” Sarachan said. “Clearly when you add players into the mix that have a certain comfort level and can play out of tight spots like Christian it would help. Sure, we miss Christian. I’m not sure it would have changed the way the game went.”

By the way, Pulisic won’t be a teen phenom much longer, as he turns 20 on Sept. 18.

Tim Weah, the son of legendary Liberian forward George Weah who grew up in Rosedale, Queens, still is a promising teenager at the age of 18 and he will be for a while. He received a nice cheer when he came on for Paul Arriola in the 56th minute.

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.