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Christian Pulisic 1st U.S. player in a Champion League final

Christian Pulisic

Christian Pulisic 1st U.S. player in a Champion League final

PORTO, Portugal (AP) — Christian Pulisic became the first American man to play in a Champions League final on Saturday.

He came away with a winner’s medal, too — and almost a goal.

The Chelsea forward came on as a substitute in the 66th minute with his team leading Manchester City 1—0 in Porto.

Christian Pulisic

The 22-year-old Pulisic, who joined Chelsea from German club Borussia Dortmund in 2019, had a chance to double the lead when he lifted the ball over City goalkeeper Ederson Moraes but it went wide in the 73rd.

Christian Pulisic
Chelsea’s Christian Pulisic, right, fails to score past Manchester City’s goalkeeper Ederson, left, during the Champions League final soccer match between Manchester City and Chelsea at the Dragao Stadium in Porto, Portugal, Saturday, May 29, 2021. (Pierre Philippe Marcou/Pool via AP)

“I wish I’d put away the chance I had,” he said. “I didn’t quite get under it the way I wanted but in the end, this team … we were always going to win this game and I’m just so proud of them.”

Related: What to know about the champions league final

Pulisic, from Hershey, Pennsylvania, celebrated with his parents after the final whistle inside the Estadio do Dragao. He posed with the Champions League trophy in a USA sweatshirt.

His second season with Chelsea was hampered by persistent hamstring injuries before Christmas, but he has played an increasingly influential role since Thomas Tuchel arrived as manager in January.

Christian Pulisic
Chelsea’s head coach Thomas Tuchel, center, celebrates with Chelsea’s Christian Pulisic after winning the Champions League final soccer match between Manchester City and Chelsea at the Dragao Stadium in Porto, Portugal, Saturday, May 29, 2021. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez, Pool)

“I’m just so proud, so proud to be here,” he said. “It’s been a difficult road for me. I couldn’t imagine winning the Champions League ever in my life. Now I’m here and it’s just crazy.”

Related: Real Madrid coach quits again after bad season

Pulisic is the second American to win the Champions League, after Jovan Kirovski in 1997. Kirovski won it with Dortmund but didn’t feature in the final, only making two substitute appearances in the group stage.

Another American, goalkeeper Zack Steffen, was an unused substitute for City. Read more sports news

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