'Captain America' Pulisic opens up about worm celebration after hat-trick against Panama
By Team Newsable | First Published Mar 28, 2022, 10:07 AM ISTExploria Stadium went berserk after 'Captain America' Christian Pulisic's hat-trick helped deliver a 5-1 thrashing against Panama to take USA to the brink of Qatar 2022.
Christian Pulisic scored a sensational hat-trick as the United States' men's national team thrashed Panama 5-1 to all-but guarantee their spot at the Qatar World Cup 2022.
The Chelsea star scored a pair of first-half penalties before completing his treble with a virtuoso goal in the second half to leave the US with one foot in this year's FIFA World Cup.
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Jesus Ferreira and Paul Arriola scored the other goals for the US in a victory that sparked massive celebration in Orlando's Exploria Stadium.
CP10 FOR THE HATTY!!! 🎩 pic.twitter.com/iv4vcs6uyq
— U.S. Soccer MNT (@USMNT)The win means the United States need only avoid a catastrophically heavy defeat in their final game against Costa Rica on Wednesday to qualify automatically.
The US have 25 points from 13 matches, while Costa Rica is three points behind following their win over El Salvador earlier Sunday.
With the US possessing a vastly superior goal difference, Costa Rica would need to win by six goals to snatch one of the three automatic qualifying berths on offer for teams from Central America, North America and the Caribbean.
The 23-year-old winger's hat-trick was a key part of Sunday's win, and his decision to do the Worm after scoring his second goal proved to be a talking point after the match.
For Mason. https://t.co/q9GXho6iK2 pic.twitter.com/wuyUH25auk
— U.S. Soccer MNT (@USMNT)After the match, Pulisic explained that the Worm celebration was to honour a USMNT fan, Mason Ogle, who the team had met before Sunday's clash.
Ogle, who has been diagnosed with a type of bone cancer called osteosarcoma, was recognised as the USMNT's matchday ambassador on Sunday as the 15-year-old, who, despite chemotherapy and a prosthetic knee, has continued to play with his high school soccer team.
Ogle met with the team at training ahead of the match and made a small request of Pulisic.
It was a pleasure meeting tonight's Game Ambassador Mason Ogle at yesterday's training.
Diagnosed with osteosarcoma, Mason is a massive soccer fan and despite extensive chemotherapy and a prosthetic knee, has managed to stay on the pitch with his high school soccer team. pic.twitter.com/0htn9S0Lnv
"I met someone really special yesterday. His name was Mason, and his one request was that if I scored, he wanted to see a worm celebration. That's what that was for," Pulisic revealed after the match.
"I had no idea that was gonna happen. When it happened, I was surprised but excited. I think, when you score goals, the best thing is the celebration, and he did the Worm celebration, so I'll rate it like a solid eight. Can't give him a ten because he didn't go back down," USMNT forward Jesus Ferreira said after the game.
Winger Paul Arriola added, "I probably give him a five just for flexibility. I felt like he could have been a little more flexible in his Worm, but I mean, I can't do that. So who am I to judge?"
Meanwhile, US coach Gregg Berhalter also hailed Pulisic's effort and said, "He's part of the team's leadership council, so it's normal for him. Christian's a guy who has been through it before and knows what we need and responded with a good."
Five years ago, a teenage Pulisic had been left in tears after Trinidad and Tobago beat the USA in their final game to miss out on qualification. However, on Sunday, the US captain left the field to a standing ovation as he was substituted in the 71st minute after scoring the goals that virtually guarantee a World Cup berth.
Following this emphatic victory, fans of Pulisic hailed their 'Captain America' and took to Twitter to celebrate Sunday's rout that exorcised the ghost of the USA's failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Here's a look at some of the reactions:
CAPTAIN AMERICA WITH THE HAT TRICK 🎩🎩🎩
Incredible touch and finish from to make it 5-0 for the pic.twitter.com/yxFvcgnsoA
Second to last game of World Cup qualifying, must-win match, goal difference vital…
Christian Pulisic drops a hat trick in one of the most fiery performances we’ve ever seen from the man. That’s what heroes do 🇺🇸🔥🐐 pic.twitter.com/45HJuq2ThW
Captain America scores a hattrick in a qualifier!!! 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/uiFZRVuZ04
— Frank Khalid (@FrankKhalidUK)🧊 in them veins.
— Clint Dempsey (@clint_dempsey)Christian Pulisic wraps up his first ever international hat trick with this exquisite spin, nutmeg and finish to lock up almost certain Worls Cup qualification for the Baby Eagles. Massive night for the development of the game in our Nation 🇺🇸🙌 pic.twitter.com/lM1KfUtlHE
— roger bennett (@rogbennett)1,629 days between these 2 images. The agony of failing to qualify for World Cup. Then, exhilaration of scoring the hattrick that takes US Men to the cusp of return. Can't imagine what Pulisic is experiencing in this moment. Exorcising ghost of failure with Tenacity and Wonder 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/48pzPBpDoq
— roger bennett (@rogbennett)THATS OUR LORD AND SAVIOR CHRISTIAN PULISIC!!!!!!
— Chief (@BarstoolChief)CHRISTIAN PULISIC CONVERTED THE SECOND PENALTY OF THE NIGHT!
THEN CP UNLOCKED RAGE MODE!
De La Torre backed him up!
CAPTAIN AMERICA 🇺🇸🔥 pic.twitter.com/sxSejymZ35
Pulisic scored his first international hat trick in USA 5-1 win against Panama
Captain America 👏🏽 pic.twitter.com/5N4BQV1aCn
Hatty for the real Captain America, Christian Pulisic ⚽️⚽️⚽️🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/VxTUY8v7xZ
— Tommy Teears (@tommyteears)Christian Pulisic. Captain America. Hat Trick.
World Cup, here comes the 🇺🇸pic.twitter.com/ajBN4S3Fzz
There's only one Captain America 🔥 🔥 🔥 pic.twitter.com/q8LfpKfKLn
— Wole (@WoleOscar)
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