DOHA, Qatar (AP) — U.S. forward Christian Pulisic is listed as day to day after sustaining a pelvic injury during his team’s 1-0 World Cup win against Iran that sent the Americans to the round of 16 of the tournament on Tuesday.

Pulisic scored the 38th-minute winning goal against Iran, but crashed into Iranian goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand during the same play. The Chelsea striker was substituted at the start of the second half and taken to a hospital for tests.

“Christian makes those runs. That’s what he does. That’s the special quality he has,” U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter said. “As soon as the ball is wide, he goes in with intensity to the penalty box and good things happen.”

The U.S. Soccer Federation said Pulisic was diagnosed with a pelvic contusion and returned to the team hotel but not before a video of him cheering on his teammates from the hospital surfaced.

Christian Pulisic from the hospital after suffering an abdominal injury against Iran 🦅🇺🇸

(via @AreaSportsNet, @Adimitri24) pic.twitter.com/zUM0Ewhbxw

— ESPN (@espn) November 29, 2022

 

A video posted later on social media by the U.S. team showed Pulisic celebrating with the rest of the squad as they arrived at the team hotel.

Pulisic was sprawled on the field and for about three minutes as he received treatment.

He tried to continue playing but was substituted at the start of the second half and taken by athletic trainer Harris Patel for abdominal scans at Hamad General Hospital, where Pulisic followed the game on phone apps. The U.S. Soccer Federation said Pulisic was diagnosed with a pelvic contusion, returned to the team hotel and is day to day.

“I sent him a text and checked on him, and he said, ‘Best believe I’ll be ready on Saturday,’” midfielder Weston McKennie said.

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