On This Day in 2021, Captain America Stayed Hot With a Memorable Strike in the Champions League Semifinal
Christian Pulisic's remarkable April resurgence reached new heights on a rain-soaked night in Madrid. The American winger etched his name in the Champions League history books during Chelsea's compelling 1-1 semifinal first-leg draw with Real Madrid.
After enduring a season plagued by injuries and inconsistent playing time, Pulisic's renaissance had begun earlier in the month, scoring the opening goal in Chelsea's disappointing 5-2 home defeat to West Bromwich Albion on April 3 before a statement performance against Crystal Palace a week later. The goals against Palace restored the 22-year-old's confidence, which was pivotal in Chelsea's campaign as they pursued a top-four Premier League finish and Champions League glory under new manager Thomas Tuchel. That performance proved to be more than just a flash of brilliance—it began a defining stretch for the player and his club.
As Chelsea prepared for their Champions League Semifinal showdown with European royalty Real Madrid, Pulisic's resurgent form earned him back his place in Tuchel's plans. After being mainly restricted to substitute appearances following Tuchel's January appointment, Pulisic had finally established himself as a regular starter.
"I feel very confident in my body and fitness level at the moment," Pulisic told reporters ahead of the Madrid clash. "I have played a string of games. I had some time out in the past year and a bit. It is really just about taking care of my body and putting myself in the best position to be available for every game. I feel good about that right now."
The American credited his international duty in March, where he scored against Northern Ireland in a friendly, as helping him find consistency. "I think it did help to go away and get some games in with the national team," Pulisic explained. "I definitely always enjoy that and, coming back, I felt very confident, and I still feel that way."
When Chelsea arrived at Real Madrid's Alfredo Di Stéfano Stadium on April 27, the stage was set for Pulisic to continue his impressive form. Facing a Real Madrid team that had switched to an unfamiliar back-three formation, Chelsea started brightly, with Timo Werner spurning a golden opportunity to open the scoring early on.
But where Werner faltered, Pulisic would deliver. In the 14th minute, Antonio Rüdiger launched a perfectly weighted long ball that caught Madrid's defense flat-footed. Pulisic broke the offside trap, gathered possession, and found himself one-on-one with former Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. With remarkable composure, the American sidestepped the onrushing Courtois before firing a powerful shot past the Madrid defenders on the goal line.
The goal was more than just the opening strike in a crucial Champions League semifinal—it was a historic milestone. Pulisic became the first American player ever to score in a Champions League semifinal and, at 22 years and 221 days, the youngest Chelsea player to score at this stage of the competition. He had also surpassed DaMarcus Beasley to become the top American scorer in Champions League history with five goals.
“It was a great finish, great composure,” Chelsea captain César Azpilicueta said of Pulisic. “He’s an amazing player, he’s a young player, he’s growing and improving. I’m very pleased with his goal because he’s an important player for the team.”
Chelsea's dominance in the opening stages suggested they might secure a commanding advantage to take back to Stamford Bridge. However, Real Madrid's experience and quality eventually told. Karim Benzema, Madrid's talismanic striker, had already served a warning when he thundered a long-range effort against the post.
In the 29th minute, Benzema delivered a moment of brilliance that underlined his status as one of Europe's elite finishers. He controlled a loose ball with his head and executed a stunning volley that flew past Edouard Mendy for the equalizer. It was Benzema's 71st Champions League goal, putting him level with Real Madrid legend Raúl in the competition's all-time scoring charts.
The remainder of the match saw both sides create opportunities without finding a decisive breakthrough. Chelsea could argue they had the better chances, particularly when Pulisic delivered a teasing cross that Werner failed to connect with. Nevertheless, the 1-1 scoreline, with Chelsea holding the advantage of an away goal, set up a tantalizing return leg at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea coach Thomas Tuchel was pleased with his team's performance but recognized that the tie remained delicately balanced. "We started the game very, very well—very aggressively, with a lot of quality," Tuchel said. "We deserved to win the first half. We had a lot of chances."
Eight days later, with the Champions League Final in Porto tantalizingly within reach, Chelsea welcomed Real Madrid to Stamford Bridge for the decisive second leg. This time, Pulisic began the match on the bench, with Tuchel opting for Mason Mount, Kai Havertz and Werner in the attack.
After Werner had given Chelsea a 1-0 lead, Pulisic entered the fray in the 67th minute, replacing the German forward. His impact was immediate and electrifying. The American's pace and direct running repeatedly troubled the tiring Madrid defense, creating several opportunities as Chelsea pushed for a second goal to kill off the tie.
In the 85th minute, Pulisic's contribution proved decisive. N'Golo Kanté won possession in the Madrid half and drove forward before slipping the ball to Pulisic on the right side of the penalty area. The American showed remarkable awareness, drawing Courtois out before executing a perfect drag-back and rolling the ball across to Mason Mount, who slammed home from close range to seal Chelsea's 2-0 victory (3-1 on aggregate).
The assist capped another influential performance from Pulisic, whose resurgence had perfectly aligned with Chelsea's journey to their first Champions League Final since 2012. On May 29, 2021, Chelsea faced Manchester City in an all-English Champions League Final at the Estádio do Dragão in Porto. While Pulisic began the match on the bench, his moment would come in the second half.
With Chelsea leading 1-0 thanks to Kai Havertz's first-half goal, Pulisic was introduced as a 66th-minute substitute, becoming the first American to play in a Champions League Final. The American almost doubled Chelsea's advantage with a golden opportunity, running onto a through ball and rounding goalkeeper Ederson, only to slide his shot agonizingly wide of the post.
Despite this miss, Chelsea secured a 1-0 victory and their second Champions League title. As the final whistle blew, Pulisic dropped to his knees in celebration, becoming only the second American player to win the Champions League after Jovan Kirovski with Borussia Dortmund in 1997.
The triumph in Porto represented the culmination of an extraordinary journey for Pulisic. From the frustrations of injuries and limited playing time to the jubilation of lifting European club football's most prestigious trophy, his April revival had set the stage for Chelsea's unexpected Champions League triumph.
As Chelsea's players celebrated with the trophy, the magnitude of their accomplishment began to sink in. For Pulisic, whose crucial goal against Real Madrid had helped make it all possible, the triumph represented personal redemption and a platform for future success on the game's grandest stages. Just a few days after lifting the trophy in Porto, Pulisic would fly back to the United States to help the national team compete in the CONCACAF Nations League Finals.
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