Phenom Pulisic on leading edge of resurgent U.S.

HARRISON, N.J. — As Christian Pulisic warmed up for training ahead of Friday’s critical World Cup qualifier against Costa Rica at Red Bull Arena, retired goalkeeper Kasey Keller marveled at the young American star who might wind up the country’s best.

“I’m truly blown away with where he’s at, where he can go,” Keller said Thursday at Red Bull Arena. “I could see Christian being bought for $100 million by a Barcelona, a Real Madrid, a Manchester United, a Chelsea, a Bayern Munich. He has an opportunity to be that first kind of marquee U.S. national team player that’s been bought for a ton of money and starred for one of the biggest teams in the world for a long time.”

Even Pulisic, 18, acknowledges his ascent has been a whirlwind.

“For me, everything happened a little bit too fast,” he said. “Of course, the past year’s been a roller coaster. Being able to play at a club level, at a high level, and then getting called to the national team, it’s amazing.”

His maturity impresses his U.S. team coach.

“He handles everything in the right way,” said Bruce Arena, who replaced Jurgen Klinsmann in November and has given Pulisic a more prominent role. “I think he respects the senior players at his club, on the national team program. He just goes out and plays and enjoys himself and gets the job done. He’s pretty impressive for a player his age.”

After losing 2-1 at home to Mexico and 4-0 at Costa Rica under Klinsmann in the start of the final round of the North and Central American and Caribbean region, the U.S. has climbed the standings under Arena. The Americans won home games over Honduras and Trinidad and Tobago, and earned draws at Panama and Mexico.

Mexico leads with 14 points, followed by Costa Rica (11), the U.S. (eight), Panama (seven), Honduras (five) and Trinidad (three); the top three nations earn World Cup berths, and the fourth-place team meets Asia’s No. 5 in a playoff.

It is likely the Americans will need points from their last two matches, at home versus Panama on Oct. 6 and at Trinidad four days later.

The U.S. is 9-0-5 under Arena, two shy of the team’s record 16-game unbeaten streak (11-0-5) set under Arena in 2004-05.

“It’s been hard work to put ourselves in this position, to turn things around, and the foot can’t come off the gas now,” U.S. captain Michael Bradley said.

But the Americans are missing two of their top defenders because of injuries: center back John Brooks and right back DeAndre Yedlin.