Christian Pulisic has scored six goals in his past seven games for Chelsea. (Dennis Schneidler-USA TODAY Sports)
Christian Pulisic has been on fire recently.
Just how hot?
The U.S. international midfielder scored his first UEFA Champions League goal Wednesday in Chelsea’s entertaining 2-2 draw at Valecnia.
It was Pulisic’s sixth goal in his last seven appearances for the English Premier League side.
After Mateo Kovacic equalized for the visitors in the 40th minute, Pulisic poked home Kurt Zouma’s header early in the second half to lift the Blues to a 2-1 lead. At first, the goal was ruled to be offside, but after a long Video Assistant Referee review, the goal was awarded as Pulisic was just even with his defender.
Chelsea manager Frank Lampard felt the EPL could learn a thing or two from the lengthy delay on the VAR.
“I don’t think the delay is the problem,” he said. “In the Premier League, there have been wrong decisions even after the delays and that’s where we need to improve [in England]. If we get the decision right, I don’t think there are too many complaints.”
Valencia’s Ezequiel Garay was slapped with a yellow card for dissent after the goal was given, appearing to argue that he was fouled by Zouma on the aerial challenge.
Chelsea, however, could not hold the lead as Valencia’s Daniel Wass tallied in the 82nd minute.
Still, the Blues picked up a valuable road point.
“I’m happy to a degree,’ Lampard said. ‘We came here to win a match but we obviously respect the opponent, the stadium and the Champions League. It was a really tough match but the draw keeps things in our hands for the last game against Lille. There were positives and negatives from the game but that’s a big positive.”