Sports
Should the USMNT be concerned about Pulisic’s goal drought?
ATLANTA — On the day before the United States men’s national team’s 2-0 loss to Portugal, head coach Mauricio Pochettino mentioned that he might elect to make some tactical tweaks to help star attacker Christian Pulisic end a long scoring drought and build back some lost confidence.
“Maybe we help a little bit to [get him] a little bit more closer to the goal,” he said.
The coach was speaking literally. Pulisic started up front as a center forward on Tuesday and found familiar cohorts in Weston McKennie and Tim Weah feeding him the ball. He received more passes than any other U.S. attacker in the first half and attempted seven ground duels, the most on the team. But he won only one of those duels, and although he forced a couple of saves from Portugal keeper José Sá, he was indeed held scoreless once again.
– Player ratings: Pulisic 3/10 in USMNT’s loss to Portugal
– Ogden: Türkiye will be USMNT’s stiffest test in World Cup group stage
– O’Hanlon: Will USMNT’s depth be World Cup game-changer?
It was Pulisic’s eighth consecutive national team match without a goal, the longest drought of his career, and by the time he gets another opportunity, at least 18 months will have gone by since his last U.S. goal. Increasingly frustrated as the first half went on, the AC Milan star committed a couple of fouls and received a yellow card before halftime. He was subbed out after 45 minutes.
“We were able to create chances, which if I finish chances, which I know I’m going to, then things are going to be a bit different,” Pulisic said after the game.
Pulisic’s struggles — plus a 37th-minute Portugal goal after a turnover by McKennie and a perfect passing sequence from Vitinha to Bruno Fernandes to Francisco Trincão — overshadowed another solid first-half performance in which the U.S. attempted eight shots to Portugal’s three and generated 0.45 xG to Portugal’s 0.26. The U.S. had seen more touches in the box, too.
Neither team had started its entire first-choice lineup, but in the second half Portugal’s extreme depth advantage showed. While Patrick Agyemang (Derby County), Tanner Tessmann (Lyon) and Max Arfsten (Columbus Crew) subbed on for the U.S., Portugal coach Roberto Martinez was able to bring in Nuno Mendes (Paris Saint-Germain), Matheus Nunes (Manchester City), João Félix (Al Nassr), and Francisco Conceição (Juventus), among others.
Mendes, one of the best left backs in the world, was quickly able to test Alex Freeman down the Americans’ right side and, after Freeman conceded a corner, a wide-open João Félix slammed in Portugal’s second goal — both assisted by Fernandes — in the 59th minute. At that point, the match was effectively over.
The March international window before a World Cup is a particularly odd one. The U.S. scheduled a couple of heavyweights in Belgium and Portugal, knowing that the results would hold massive weight on perceptions and narratives heading into the summer. It’s safe to say that two losses by a combined 7-2 will certainly define discussions over the next few weeks.
At the same time, there’s a reason Portugal boss Martinez called team assessments in March “worthless” earlier in the week. With a number of prospective World Cup starters still out with minor injuries and a number of roster spots still up for grabs, however, Pochettino needed further impressions from a lot of the 24 players who saw the field over the two matches. What did he see?
-
Malik Tillman created five chances in 138 minutes while splitting time in a central attacking midfield role (against Belgium) and on the left wing (against Portugal). He created only two shot attempts for himself, however, putting one on goal.
-
McKennie scored from a set piece against Belgium and found another great chance early against Portugal, sending it wide. He wasn’t as sharp in the second match, and his turnover near midfield sent Portugal off toward their first goal.
-
Defender Auston Trusty played almost the entire match against Portugal and won five of seven duels. He was mostly stable out of possession, though you could make the case that he dropped back far too low on Portugal’s first goal, giving Trincão space to fire off an open shot.
-
After struggling at right back against Jérémy Doku and Belgium, Weah was the team’s most dangerous attacker against Portugal, making six progressive carries (the most on the team) and sending in a pair of dangerous crosses.
-
Aidan Morris and Sebastian Berhalter were given massive opportunities, starting against a dynamite Portuguese midfield. Morris, one of the best duel winners in the player pool, won a pair of duels and made seven defensive interventions, and each player completed four progressive passes.
-
Freeman played 79 minutes on Tuesday and won four of seven duels, though he very much had his hands full with Nunes in the second half.
-
Agyemang was mostly quiet against Portugal but was a lone bright spot against Belgium, scoring late.
For now, however, the biggest impression comes from Pulisic. The 27-year-old has now gone 14 matches for club and country without a goal, his longest drought since 2022.
“Physically I feel really good, feel really sharp and I’m doing a lot of good things,” Pulisic said. “I have to help my team to create assists and score goals and create chances. Obviously when I don’t do that it’s frustrating, but I feel like I’m close and I feel good things are coming.”
He will now return to Milan as they attempt to push up from second place in Serie A.
That’s two teams counting on his return to form.
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
The Greatest Spectacle in Racing always delivers. The Indianapolis 500 is the biggest motorsports event in the world, the racing is incredible and the winner’s life is forever altered.
Each Memorial Day weekend, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway hosts the legendary Indy 500, which has more than a century’s worth of champions. From Ray Harroun in 1911 to today’s speed demons, these drivers forever etch their names into history at the Brickyard.
Here’s a list of all those who have earned a spot on the celebrated Borg-Warner Trophy by winning the Indy 500.
Indy 500 Winners
Josef Newgarden after winning the 2024 Indianapolis 500. (Photo by Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
INDYCAR Sanction (2008-Present)
- 2026: Felix Rosenqvist (Meyer Shank w/ Curb Agajanian)
- 2025: Alex Palou (Ganassi)
- 2024: Josef Newgarden (Penske)
- 2023: Josef Newgarden (Penske)
- 2022: Marcus Ericsson (Ganassi)
- 2021: Hélio Castroneves (Meyer Shank)
- 2020: Takuma Sato (Rahal Letterman)
- 2019: Simon Pagenaud (Penske)
- 2018: Will Power (Penske)
- 2017: Takuma Sato (Andretti)
- 2016: Alexander Rossi (Andretti-Herta)
- 2015: Juan Pablo Montoya (Penske)
- 2014: Ryan Hunter-Reay (Andretti)
- 2013: Tony Kanaan (KV Racing Technology)
- 2012: Dario Franchitti (Ganassi)
- 2011: Dan Wheldon (Bryan Herta)
- 2010: Dario Franchitti (Ganassi)
- 2009: Hélio Castroneves (Penske)
- 2008: Scott Dixon (Ganassi)
Dual Sanctioning (1996-2007)
Indy Racing League
- 2007: Dario Franchitti (Andretti-Green)
- 2006: Sam Hornish Jr. (Penske)
- 2005: Dan Whelson (Andretti-Green)
- 2004: Buddy Rice (Rahal Letterman)
- 2003: Gil de Ferran (Penske)
- 2002: Hélio Castroneves (Penske)
- 2001: Hélio Castroneves (Penske)
- 2000: Juan Montoya (Chip Ganassi)
- 1999: Kenny Brack (A.J. Foyt)
- 1998: Eddie Cheever Jr. (Cheever)
- 1997: Arie Luyendyk (Treadway)
- 1996: Buddy Lazier (Hemelgarn)
CART Sanction (1979-1995)
- 1995: Jacques Villeneuve (Green)
- 1994: Al Unser Jr. (Penske)
- 1993: Emerson Fittipaldi (Penske)
- 1992: Al Unser Jr. (Galles-Kraco)
- 1991: Rick Mears (Penske)
- 1990: Arie Luyendyk (Doug Shierson)
- 1989: Emerson Fittipaldi (Patrick)
- 1988: Rick Mears (Penske)
- 1987: Al Unser (Penske)
- 1986: Bobby Rahal (Trusports)
- 1985: Danny Sullivan (Penske)
- 1984: Rick Mears (Penske)
- 1983: Tom Sneva (Bignotti-Cotter)
- 1982: Gordon Johncock (STP Patrick)
- 1981: Bobby Unser (Penske)
- 1980: Johnny Rutherford (Chaparral)
- 1979: Rick Mears (Penske)
CART = Championship Auto Racing Teams
USAC Sanction (1956-1978)
- 1978: Al Unser (Chaparral)
- 1977: A.J. Foyt (A.J. Foyt)
- 1976: Johnny Rutherford (Bruce McLaren)
- 1975: Bobby Unser (All American Racer)
- 1974: Johnny Rutherford (Bruce McLaren)
- 1973: Gordon Johncock (Patrick)
- 1972: Mark Donohue (Roger Penske)
- 1971: Al Unser (Vel’s Parnelli Jones)
- 1970: Al Unser (Vel’s Parnelli Jones)
- 1969: Mario Andretti (STP Corp)
- 1968: Bobby Unser (Leader Cards)
- 1967: A.J. Foyt (Ansted-Thompson)
- 1966: Graham Hill (Mecom)
- 1965: Jim Clark (Lotus)
- 1964: A.J. Foyt (Ansted-Thompson)
- 1963: Parnelli Jones (JC Agajanian)
- 1962: Rodger Ward (Leader Cards)
- 1961: A.J. Foyt (Bignotti-Bowes)
- 1960: Jim Rathmann (En-Paul)
- 1959: Rodger Ward (Leader Cards)
- 1958: Jimmy Bryan (George Salih)
- 1957: Sam Hanks (George Salih)
- 1956: Pat Flaherty (John Zink)
USAC = United States Auto Club
AAA Sanction (1909-1955)
- 1955: Bob Sweikert (John Zink)
- 1954: Bill Vukovich (Howard B Keck)
- 1953: Bill Vukovich (Howard B Keck)
- 1952: Troy Ruttman (JC Agajanian)
- 1951: Lee Wallard (Murreil Belanger)
- 1950: Johnnie Parsons (Kurtis Kraft)
- 1949: Bill Holland (Lou Moore)
- 1948: Mauri Rose (Lou Moore)
- 1947: Mauri Rose (Lou Moore)
- 1946: George Robson (Thorne)
- 1945: N/A*
- 1944: N/A*
- 1943: N/A*
- 1942: N/A*
- 1941: F Davis – M Rose (Lou Moore)
- 1940: Wilbur Shaw (Boyle)
- 1939: Wilbur Shaw (Boyle)
- 1938: Floyd Roberts (Lou Moore)
- 1937: Wilbur Shaw (Wilbur Shaw)
- 1936: Louis Meyer (Louis Meyer)
- 1935: Kelly Petillo (Kelly Petillo)
- 1934: Bill Cummings (HC Henning)
- 1933: Louis Meyer (Louis Meyer)
- 1932: Fred Frame (Harry Hartz)
- 1931: Louis Schneider (BL Schneider)
- 1930: Billy Arnold (Harry Hartz)
- 1929: Ray Keech (MA Yagle)
- 1928: Louis Meyer (Alden Sampson II)
- 1927: George Souders (William S White)
- 1926: Frank Lockhart (Peter Kreis)
- 1925: Peter De Paolo (Duesenberg)
- 1924: L.L. Corum and Joe Boyer (Duesenberg)
- 1923: Tommy Milton (HCS Motors)
- 1922: Jimmy Murphy (Jimmy Murphy)
- 1921: Tommy Milton (Louis Chevrolet)
- 1920: Gaston Chevrolet (William Small)
- 1919: Howdy Wilcox (IMS Corp)
- 1918: N/A*
- 1917: N/A*
- 1916: Dario Resta (Peugeot)
- 1915: Ralph DePalma (EC Patterson)
- 1914: Rene Thomas (Louis Delage)
- 1913: Jules Goux (Peugeot)
- 1912: Joe Dawson (National Motors)
- 1911: Ray Harroun (Nordyke & Mermon)
*Racing paused due to WWI
**Racing paused due to WWII
AAA = American Automobile Association
Who Has Won The Most Indy 500s?
Four racers share the record for the most Indy 500 victories with four. Below is a list of drivers with two or more wins:
- Hélio Castroneves (4)
- A.J. Foyt (4)
- Rick Mears (4)
- Al Unser (4)
- Dario Franchitti (3)
- Louis Meyer (3)
- Wilbur Shaw (3)
- Mauri Rose (3)
- Johnny Rutherford (3)
- Bobby Unser (3)
- Emerson Fittipaldi (2)
- Gordon Johncock (2)
- Arie Luyendyk (2)
- Tommy Milton (2)
- Juan Pablo Montoya (2)
- Josef Newgarden (2)
- Takuma Sato (2)
- Bill Vukovich (2)
- Rodger Ward (2)
- Dan Wheldon (2)
- Al Unser Jr. (2)
How To Watch The 2026 Indy 500
The 2026 Indy 500 will air on FOX at 12:30 p.m. ET with the pre-race show set to begin at 10 a.m. ET on FOX. You can stream the race and coverage surrounding it on FOX One.
- Date: Sunday, May 24, 2026
- Time: 12:45 p.m. ET
- TV channel: FOX
- Streaming: FOX One, FOX Sports app and FOXSports.com
- Location: Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, IN
Travis Head and his wife Jessica have been subjected to a barrage of online abuse after the Australian cricketer was embroiled in a spat with India great Virat Kohli during an IPL match.
The players clashed during the T20 match between Head’s Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kohli’s Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Friday.
Heated words were exchanged between the two before Kohli was dismissed for 15 and his team slumped to a 55-run defeat.
As the two sets of players lined up for the post-game handshakes, Kohli ignored Head’s outstretched arm but shook hands with the other players.
The Instagram accounts for Head and Jessica have since been flooded with abusive comments, apparently from fans of the former India captain.
Jessica told The Advertiser newspaper that her friends and family had also received hateful private messages.
“I woke up to my socials blasting… we are fine but they are attacking my friends and family,” she said Monday, according to the reports.
“Passion will always be part of sport, but so is remembering there are real people and families behind the game.
“Hopefully this encourages more kindness, and support for one another.”
She also said it felt like “a repeat of the abuse that happened after the World Cup”, referring to the 2023 50-over tournament when Australia beat hosts India in the final in Ahmedabad.
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
IndyCar rookie Caio Collet was involved in a terrifying crash toward the end of the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday afternoon with Felix Rosenqvist and Pato O’Ward fighting for first place.
Collet got loose in Turn 2 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and overcorrected just enough to send his vehicle into the wall. His right rear caught fire as he skidded down the track and onto the grass.
ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON’T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!
Caio Collet drives a Combitrans AJ Foyt Enterprises Chevrolet through turn three during practice on Miller Lite Carb Day at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Ind., on May 22, 2026. (Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire)
Emergency personnel came over to put the fire out and help Collet out of his car.
He was able to walk away from the scary wreck, but track officials called for a red flag. The red flag stopped the race and gave drivers a breather for what would be a total shootout for the final few laps.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Caio Collet leads the field during the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis on May 24, 2026. (Michael Conroy/AP)
Collet will fall down the leaderboard as he didn’t finish the race.
The A.J. Foyt Racing driver was making his first appearance in the Indy 500. He graduated into the NTT IndyCar Series after finishing second in the Indy NXT Series last year. He won three races on the Indy NXT Series in 2025.
The Brazilian came into the race in 21st place in the IndyCar standings with 70 points through six starts. He has yet to finish in the top 10 in his first season.
David Maluka talks with Caio Collet before practice for the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis on May 18, 2026. (Michael Conroy/AP)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
The 2026 Indy 500 already featured more than 50 lead changes and was one of the more competitive events in recent memory.
Felix Rosenqvist won the race on the final lap.
Vietnam launches Hai Phong customs pilot from June 1
Is American men’s tennis in trouble as French Open begins?
Memorial Day Deals on Our Top Smart Bird Feeders, Camera Bags, and More
-
Tech1 week agoWhy Is Your Grill So Dumb? The Best Grills Set Temp Like an Oven
-
Tech1 week agoThis Solar-Powered Smart Sprinkler Keeps My Lawn Watered Without Any Power Cables
-
Fashion5 days agoUS cotton planting advances to 41%, concerns persist in Texas
-
Fashion4 days agoICE cotton sees mixed trend as rain forecasts weaken sentiment
-
Fashion1 week agoTurkiye’s current account deficit expected to widen in 2026: Minister
-
Fashion1 week agoIndia’s Pearl Global’s FY26 revenue crosses $521 mn milestone
-
Fashion7 days agoNigeria Kwara Garment Factory, KWS Garment Production Village ink pact
-
Entertainment1 week agoPrincess of Wales praised as ‘step ahead’ of royal family