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Pulisic bags first career hat trick for first Premier League goals

Christian Pulisic is having the time of his life against Burnley.

Pulisic scored his first ever hat trick to open the scoring for Chelsea with two wonderful solo efforts and a well placed header.

Pulisic scored Chelsea’s opener against Burnley by doing everything himself. He regained possession after Burnley right back Matthew Lowton fell down near the center of the park. He ran the ball into the penalty area, evading a pair of defenders in the process. Finally, he finished with a well placed shot at the far post through three opposing players and keeper Nick Pope.

https://twitter.com/NBCSportsSoccer/status/1188136468616749056

The young American took off into a sliding celebration with a look that combined joy and relief.

He wasn’t done there, however. He picked up a second right before half time with another fantastic solo effort. This time he gained possession in midfield again, ran to the top of the 18, crossed over to his right foot, and smashed a low shot off a defender and past Pope.

The third of his natural hat trick came in the 56th minute off a corner. After Mason Mount’s initial bal was cleared right back to him, he picked Pulisic out near the top of the six-yard box for an open header and he made no mistake in finding the back of the net.

Pulisic is now the second American to score a Premier League hat trick. The only other one came on January 21, 2012 when Clint Dempsey scored three goals for Fulham against Newcastle in a 5-2 win.

Pulisic is emerging from a rough patch early in his Chelsea career. He struggled to pick up starting minutes despite receiving praise from manager Frank Lampard on multiple occasions. He was frequently coming on as a sub and making big passes and racking up assists, but today was his first start in the league since August 31, and he certainly rewarded his manager for selecting him this time.

Pulisic now has a trio of goals to go along with five assists in ten appearances since joining Chelsea over the summer.

Comments

  1. I think it’s the perfect time to bring up GB. He is a moron who got a job because of nepotism. He took Pulisic out of a game and had no idea how badly he needed Pulisic in that game. This conversation takes nothing away from Christian Pulisic’s wonderful performance today. In fact it highlights the fact that GB has no idea what he is doing with Pulisic and the USMNT in general.

    Reply
    • Meh. There are plenty of good reasons to be upset about Berhalter, but this just feels like “choose your own narrative”. One could just as easily argue that Berhalter yanking Pulisic was actually the turning point in his otherwise unremarkable two months at both club and country level. It’s all bs in the end with stuff like this. For all we know he actually had the flu.
      ******************************
      Having said all that, if CP sustains this form, we should expect that GB finds a way to coax a stellar performance out of him.

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      • Gomer – the problem with the NATS is not anybodys form. The problem is GB and his failed system. People do nothing under GB but return to their clubs and do. Not just Pulisic, but Sargent too. Sarge scored in Germany after playing Canada and looking invisible. Was it his “form” or the system and players chosen? Im putting the blame on GB. These players can play but they can’t carry the other stiffs GB picks

      • I am aware of the problems w Berhalter. In this case, I am simply saying that the idea that Pulisic was “in form” at the time is absurdly revisionist. Anyone who was paying attention at the time will recall the numerous “Should USMNT panic about Pulisic?” articles on this and other sites. And for good reason — He was not getting minutes for Chelsea and not looking great when he did. Thankfully things are turning positive for him now. That’s good news.

  2. CP22 is mad as all get out on that first goal celebration. It does seem that Burnley was ignoring him. On all three goals the marking was slack. Didnt seem they were concerned with him. Sure they are now.

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  3. This kid is pure quality and having him play on a team with CERTAIN players with no ability, skill or talent, that are selected through favoritism, is absolutely unfair. Night and day performance between club and country. Wow….look at the result of playing on a team with quality……. A HAT-TRICK IN THE BEST LEAGUE IN THE WORLD. Instead, the poor kid (along with others) is on a team with talentless back passing central midfielders, that cannot maintain possession to save their lives, and with players accustomed to a very slow pace of play. Damn…

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKxDjG9barU

    “Quality is the result of intelligent effort.” #RESPECT ??

    Reply
      • Eh… no such thing Silver. Even an individual effort is influenced by the team/your team mates…. off ball positioning and runs/movement creating openings/space is huge… The level of your team mates either demanding attention or not so much.

  4. Berhalter trying to be coach off the field trying to persuade sergino dest and speaking on how pulisic is in the same situation as hazard and griezman lol fool start figuring out some tactics that work because yours dont. A high school coach could do better with these us forwards. Sargent had two dangerous shots on goal on super fast transition into the box and set up a goal today and is starting to hold up the ball against a fast pressure bundesliga. Pulisic today showed tremendous heart 3 goals with confidence. It shows bad in berhalter that he quote “hasn’t figured out pulisic” in his position and taking him out against canada in a big game it showed very bad for berhalter as a coach. I really don’t like him and I know that the players by now don’t believe in this system of his that is garbage and doesn’t teach the importance of having a solid back 4 a defensive minded midfield with possession players that make the difference connecting with forwards up top. There is players guys no excuses it’s just the coach that’s the problem.

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  5. He should refuse call ups until Beerholder is fired and focus on his club. Glad to see him on the score sheet and hat trick.

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  6. Heard his celebration scream from here in the US. Cant imagine what that must have felt like on the first goal.

    Amazing day for him, hopefully just the start.

    Congrats fellow US fans, something finally to celebrate.

    Reply

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