Christian Pulisic needed a moment. He had been excellent against Japan, running the game in a performance he would later dub the best for the USMNT under Mauricio Pochettino. But this is a results-based sport, and all of the pretty turns, nice passes and deft dribbles in the world can’t beat a cold, hard stat.

And after an hour, it looked as it would never come. Pulisic had done everything right except, well, materially impact the game. 

Finally, fortunately, that singular moment came. It was the kind of thing he has done so many times on a football pitch: a turn away from a defender, drop of the shoulder, charge forward, poked pass. Folarin Balogun delivered the finish, sealing the USMNT’s 2-0 win. But Pulisic got the assist, and it really was his goal. Balogun careened away in celebration – this was big for him, too.

Pulisic, meanwhile, celebrated in his own right, a casual punch of the air, and an expression of relief. Balogun wanted the goal. Pulisic needed the assist. 

And so we can finally all be friends again. This summer was chaotic on so many levels. Pulisic did something entirely reasonable in sitting out of the Gold Cup, but left himself open for criticism from the largely hyperbolic masses. Yet with 70 minutes of excellent work – and one fine assist – he went a long way torward burying it all.

No, it’s not done yet. Yes, there might still be some residual chatter here. But the U.S. has its star man back, and for all of the hot air directed toward Pulisic, the human being, Pulisic, the footballer, makes this team infinitely better.

His return couldn’t be more welcome.