ZCZC
BSP-02
FBL-USA-GER-ENG-PR-DORTMUND-LIVERPOOL
Pulisic powers Dortmund past Liverpool in friendly
LOS ANGELES, July 23, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – American international Christian
Pulisic scored two second-half goals to lift Borussia Dortmund to a 3-1 win
over Liverpool in an International Champions Cup friendly in North Carolina
on Saturday.
Pulisic almost completed the hat trick in the 93rd minute but his blast
from in close was stopped and the rebound went to teammate Jacob Bruun Larsen
who deposited it into the empty net as Dortmund improved to 2-0 in the 18-
team pre-season tournament.
With Mohamed Salah, Pedro Chirivella, Georginio Wijnaldum, Sadio Mane and
Marko Grujic sitting out it was an inexperienced Liverpool side that took to
the field at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Netherlands’ Virgil van Dijk opened the scoring for Liverpool in the 25th
minute with a perfectly timed leaping header off a long cross from Andrew
Robertson.
Dortmund’s best chance to score in the first half was a sharp angle shot
by Marius Wolf that Liverpool keeper Loris Karius easily handled.
Both teams swapped out several players to begin the second half which
brought the German side to life.
Liverpool’s Sheyi Ojo had a chance to pad the lead on a solo opportunity
in the 64th minute but his shot deflected off goalkeeper Marwin Hitz and then
bounced off the crossbar.
That helped set the stage for Pulisic’s heroics. He tied it 1-1 in the
66th minute on a penalty conversion, hammering his attempt straight down the
middle of the net.
Pulisic scored again in the 89th minute by finishing off a nice passing
play with teammate Marcel Schmelzer with a low shot to the near post.
BSS/AFP/MSY/0835 hrs