USA punch knockout round ticket with Pulisic winner vs. Iran

MIAMI, Florida – The United States are through to the knockout round of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 thanks to Christian Pulisic’s winning goal in a 1-0 victory over Iran on Tuesday night at Al Thumama Stadium in Doha, Qatar.

With the win, the U.S. finish in second place in Group B with five points and will now take on the Netherlands in the Round of 16 on Saturday.

A boisterous atmosphere inside the stadium greeted the two teams, making for a very intense start. Soon enough it began to settle, with the U.S. taking control of possession and mustering the first two looks at goal via a Christian Pulisic header and a Timothy Weah shot in the first half-hour.

The U.S. would pick the lock of the Iranian defense in the 38’ when Weston McKennie flighted a diagonal ball down the right wing to Sergino Dest, whose headed cross met the charging Pulisic and the U.S. attacker steered home from a yard out for a 1-0 U.S. lead.

The U.S. sought to keep the momentum going in the second half to try to add to their lead, but it was Iran who started to carve out chances and had the U.S. defense on their heels.

As time ticked away, every ball was hotly contested by the two teams, knowing that an Iran goal would completely change the dynamic of which team would advance and which one would go home.

In the end, U.S. GK Matt Turner and the defense held firm and turned away ever Iranian scoring chance to nail down the 1-0 victory and a place in the next round.