Pulisic's Return to Form at the King Power

On This Day in 2021, the American Winger Ended His Injury Nightmare with a Substitute's Strike in Chelsea's Dominant Victory

The ankle wouldn't heal. Christian Pulisic suffered the injury in Honduras on September 8th during a World Cup qualifier, a seemingly routine collision that refused to resolve. Weeks turned into months. Every time recovery seemed imminent, the pain returned. Thomas Tuchel's words carried the weight of frustration and sympathy: Pulisic was "really suffering," and "recovery is not happening." The 23-year-old had made just two Chelsea appearances all season—a goal against Crystal Palace on opening day, then nothing. After missing two league matches with COVID-19, the ankle betrayed him against Honduras, followed by two months of setbacks, false starts, and the gnawing anxiety that accompanies every injured player watching from the sidelines.

But football's cruelties often arrive alongside its redemptions. When Gregg Berhalter summoned Pulisic off the bench in Cincinnati on November 12th against Mexico, nobody knew what condition the winger was truly in. The sold-out crowd, undeterred by cold and rain, had watched a frantic 0-0 stalemate for nearly 70 minutes before he subbed on to the field. Then came Tim Weah's pinpoint cross from the right, Pulisic's perfectly timed run inside the six-yard box, and the glancing header that floated past Guillermo Ochoa. The United States took first place in CONCACAF qualifying. The ankle had held. "Moments like that is what we live for," Pulisic said afterward, his relief barely concealed beneath the triumph.

The question facing Tuchel was whether that moment in Cincinnati represented genuine recovery or borrowed time. Chelsea had thrived without their American winger—six points clear atop the Premier League, an imperious defensive record, 15 different goalscorers demonstrating the depth that made individuals almost optional. Romelu Lukaku was sidelined with his own ankle problem. Timo Werner remained unavailable. Yet the Blues had barely missed a step, their 3-4-3 system functioning with ruthless efficiency. Still, as Chelsea prepared to face Leicester City on November 20th, Pulisic's name appeared on the team sheet with two words that carried weight beyond their brevity: "could feature."

Leicester's form suggested vulnerability. The King Power Stadium, once a fortress during their remarkable rise, had witnessed 12 home defeats since the start of the previous season—more than any team in the division. With Youri Tielemans missing due to a calf injury, the Foxes lined up against opponents who'd transformed dramatically since their last meeting. That January defeat at this very ground had been Frank Lampard's final match. Now, under Tuchel, Chelsea arrived as leaders with a defensive solidity bordering on arrogance—just four goals conceded in 12 matches, none from open play in five away games.

The afternoon unfolded with the inevitability of waves against a crumbling seawall. Antonio Rüdiger rose to meet Ben Chilwell's 14th-minute corner, his glancing header looping past Kasper Schmeichel. The goal came via Chelsea's most reliable route—no team had scored more headers this season, and nobody had conceded more than Leicester. Then N'Golo Kanté, given inexplicable space to advance 30 yards virtually unchallenged, fired from the edge of the box into the bottom corner. Two-nil by the 28th minute, and Leicester's Boubakary Soumaré, ostensibly assigned to contain his former teammate, had been rendered invisible.

Chelsea's dominance was so complete it bordered on exhibition. They controlled 70% of possession in the first half. Chilwell struck the crossbar when he should have scored. Jorginho threaded defense-splitting passes that carved open Leicester's backline repeatedly. The home supporters, frustrated by the gulf in quality, jeered their own team off at halftime—a response that drew sharp criticism from Brendan Rodgers afterward.

Leicester improved after the break, James Maddison and Kelechi Iheanacho offering more attacking intent. Édouard Mendy made a fabulous save from Daniel Amartey's long-range blast. Jamie Vardy headed over from close range. But Chelsea's control never wavered, and when Tuchel introduced his substitutes in the 66th minute, the outcome was already settled.

Five minutes later came Pulisic's moment. Hakim Ziyech checked back inside Çağlar Söyüncü, evading Jonny Evans before sliding a pass behind Leicester's defense. Pulisic's run had anticipated the delivery perfectly, arriving in space at the near post with only technique required. His first touch controlled Ziyech's cross. His second finish nestled the ball past Schmeichel from close range. The assistant referee's flag stayed down—unlike three previous Chelsea strikes ruled offside—and Pulisic had his first club goal since August, his second Premier League strike of an injury-ravaged campaign.

The simplicity of the finish belied its significance. After two months of setbacks and doubt, after watching Chelsea accumulate wins without him, after wondering whether his body would cooperate, Pulisic had delivered when called upon. The goal extended Chelsea's lead to six points at the top of the table before the weekend's later matches. More importantly, it announced his availability—that the ankle had finally, genuinely healed.

Tuchel praised his team's "huge effort" and "mature performance," acknowledging how the wing-back system brought out Chelsea's attacking versatility. The three disallowed goals suggested the scoreline could have been far more emphatic. 

For Pulisic, the substitute appearance represented something more fundamental than three points. The injury that had stolen his season had taught him football's harsh arithmetic: talent means nothing when pain prevents movement, and recovery refuses to follow a linear path. But standing at the King Power, having combined with another substitute to seal a comprehensive victory, the American had reclaimed something he'd lost in Honduras—the simple certainty that his body would allow him to play. The ankle had been held in Cincinnati. Now it had held again. The nightmare was over.