New on Sports Illustrated: Christian Pulisic, Gio Reyna Score for USMNT vs. Northern Ireland

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Gio Reyna and Christian Pulisic scored on either side of halftime in a friendly with Northern Ireland on Sunday.

In a dream scenario for USMNT fans, Christian Pulisic and

Gio Reyna each scored for the U.S. men's national team on Sunday in a friendly against Northern Ireland in Belfast.

In the 30th minute, Reyna took a pass in midfield with plenty of space to maneuver and worked past his defender before releasing a shot from 22 yards. The effort took a massive deflection off Northern Ireland defender Ciaran Brown that goalkeeper Conor Hazard could only watch as the U.S. took the 1-0 lead.

The goal is Reyna's second in a U.S. shirt, following up his impressive free kick in November against Panama. The 18-year-old Borussia Dortmund phenom was unlucky to not score in a 4-1 win over Jamaica on Thursday despite a flurry of chances. He was subbed off for Salzburg midfielder Brenden Aaronson in the 63rd minute. 

Pulisic, who captained the U.S. on the day, doubled the U.S. lead in the 59th minute after he was taken down inside the Northern Ireland penalty box. The Chelsea star stepped to the spot and snuck his shot just below Hazard for his 15th international goal and first since October 2019. 

With defenders John Brooks and Reggie Cannon having left the U.S. camp to avoid a COVID-19 quarantine upon reentry to their respective countries, USMNT coach Gregg Berhalter opted to go with a back-three, allowing fullbacks Sergino Dest and Antonee Robinson to attack more freely. Ream, as the left-most part of the back three, fed Reyna, who started opposite Pulisic as a winger in the U.S. attack.

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