Christian Pulisic opened the scoring for Chelsea in their 1-1 draw with Real Madrid on Tuesday night – and created Champions League history in the process.
The Blues registered a crucial away goal in the first leg of their semi-final against Los Blancos, with Pulisic rounding Thibaut Courtois and cooly slotting the ball home after 14 minutes.
Their lead in Madrid only lasted 15 minutes, nevertheless, as Karim Benzema capitalised on a loose ball in the box and rifled it past Edouard Mendy to level proceedings.
Pulisic’s goal means Zinedine Zidane’s side have to score in next week’s second leg at Stamford Bridge to stand any chance of advancing to the final.
And incredibly, the strike also made him the first American player ever to score in a Champions League semi-final, as well as Chelsea’s youngest ever goalscorer in the last four of the competition at 22 years and 221 days.
The 22-year-old was at his brilliant best in Spain, combining terrifically with fellow attackers Timo Werner and Mason Mount in a game that Thomas Tuchel’s men could have won on another day.
He is the first American player ever to score in a Champions League semi-final (Image: REUTERS)
He certainly backed up Joe Cole’s praise before kick-off, with the former Chelsea winger waxing lyrical about him on BT Sport.
Cole said: “I love Pulisic. Back end of last year he was Chelsea’s best player by a mile. He was driving with the ball. He looked like Eden Hazard. Had the No.10 on his back. Can go both ways. Score goals.
Christian Pulisic of Chelsea FC celebrates after scoring his team’s first goal with Thomas Tuchel, Manager of Chelsea
He is also Chelsea’s youngest ever goalscorer in the last four of the competition (Image: Getty Images)
“Injuries have cost him and I felt a little chink in his armour with his mentality. A player of his quality shouldn’t go as long as he has without having an affect on the game.
“He’s a young man, in a new country. I think he’s going to be a massive player for Chelsea. He’s well liked and respected in the dressing room. And tonight the night’s to shine.
Player of the Match: N’Golo Kanté (Chelsea)
“His work in attack and defence was spectacular. He gave balance to the team. He recovered balls in all areas and made great passes between the lines to enable quick transitions. A great game.”
Ginés Carvajal, UEFA Technical Observer
Key stats
• This was Real Madrid’s 450th game in European Cup/UEFA Champions League history.
• Pulišić is now the outright highest scoring American in UEFA Champions League history (five goals) and the first to strike in a semi-final.
• Benzema scored his 71st UEFA Champions League goal, moving him level with Raúl González in fourth place on the all-time top scorers list.
• Benzema (33 years, 129 days) became the oldest scorer for Madrid in a UEFA Champions League semi-final, taking the record from Cristiano Ronaldo (32 years, 86 days).
• Madrid have kept just two clean sheets in their last 13 UEFA Champions League home games.