Christian Pulisic geeks Panama for assist to put USMNT up 1-0 (Video)

USMNT sensation Christian Pulisic helped open the scoring on Tuesday night as he shredded Panama in the box for an easy assist to Clint Dempsey

The US Men’s National Team was dominant at the end of last week when they put a hurting on Honduras. There were plenty of takeaways from the 6-0 victory for the USMNT, but the biggest was the brightest young star on the squad. That player, of course, is 18-year-old Borussia Dortmund winger Christian Pulisic.

Given what he’s done in the Bundesliga this season at such a young age, expectations were high for Pulisic coming into this run of CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying matches. He delivered against Honduras. However, the question was if the young man still three years away from legally drinking in his home country would be able to do it again—or, more importantly, consistently.

If you ask the Panama defense, who Pulisic and the USMNT squared off with on Tuesday night, he was more than ready. Though the Panama defense tried to muscle the slight-framed American around early in the first half, he didn’t shy away. Then when he had the opportunity to make some noise, he did so with apparent ease.

After chasing down a long ball to the right side of the box, Pulisic won and retained possession through physical play. He then made his move toward the middle of the box, before ducking down to the end line. There, he cut the ball back quickly to get past another defender and found himself space. It was easy work from there after eviscerating the defense as he found Clint Dempsey all alone in front of net for the goal and the 1-0 USMNT lead:

The kid has the goods. For an 18-year-old, that type of composure, poise and form is both fun and remarkable.

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Unfortunately, the ever-shaky USMNT defense soon conceded to Panama to take a 1-1 score-line into the half. Even still, they have to feel confident moving forward with Christian Pulisic in-tow. He’s only going to improve from here—and he’s already pretty damn special.