Watch: Christian Pulisic assists on Dortmund goal in Champions League
Following an impressive showing with the U.S. men's national team in World Cup qualifying, Christian Pulisic earned his first start of the Borussia Dortmund season on the Champions League stage, and he made good on the opportunity with an assist.
Pulisic, who turns 18 on Sunday, started for Dortmund in its Champions League opener against Legia Warsaw, and he assisted on his side's fifth goal in a one-sided romp in Poland. After operating primarily on the right, Pulisic delivered a perfect cross from the left to the far post for Gonzalo Castro, who scored on a first-time finish and made it 5-0 in favor of the German side.
Pulisic nearly had a goal and an assist prior to Castro's goal. His pinpoint throughball put Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in clear on goal, but he had his breakaway attempt saved.
Later in the first half, Dortmund scored its third goal through Marc Bartra, who was first to tap in a ball at the goal mouth. Had he not been there, Pulisic was in position to make the final touch.
Pulisic still hasn't appeared in league play for Dortmund this season after making nine appearances (four starts) and scoring two goals last season. He was also an unused substitute during the German Super Cup and Dortmund's first-round match in the German Cup.
Pulisic made quite the impression for the U.S. in World Cup qualifying matches against St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago, with veteran goalkeeper Tim Howard telling SI's Grant Wahl, “I don’t know what it’s like to have that much confidence at that age. It’s incredible. It reminds me a little of the other guy who used to wear No. 10 [Landon Donovan].”
