The Mauricio Pochettino era is officially underway as the United States men’s national team defeated Panama 2-0 on Saturday in a friendly. We’re winning the damn World Cup.
Saturday’s victory at Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas, was the first win for the USMNT in four months as the team had a brutal skid and transition from the Gregg Berhalter era. Prior to the win vs. Panama, the U.S. had won just one of their previous seven games.
Pochettino’s first camp with the USMNT features a hodgepodge of players. The U.S. men nave a long list of injuries to usual starters like Gio Reyna, Folarin Balogun, Sergiño Dest, Tyler Adams, Johnny Cardoso, Timothy Weah, Chris Richards and more.
Perhaps the biggest surprise from Pochettino was not playing Weston McKennie in the friendly as the Juventus star sat on the bench for the full 90 minutes.
USMNT vs Panama highlights
The Pochettino bus took about 45 minutes to get started as his squad got off to a slow start. Chances were created but not finished including a golden chance for Josh Sargent who was given the start at striker.
Josh Sargent comes close but USA vs. Panama remains scoreless at halftime ⛔
Watch the match live on TNT and Max pic.twitter.com/lArMBxOztH— B/R Football (@brfootball) October 13, 2024
One aspect of the USMNT’s game that was visibly different under Pochettino was the players’ effort to win back possession after losing the ball. It seemed that each time the USMNT were dispossessed it was like a drag race of blue jerseys flying back to get in defensive positions and get the ball back.
Pochettino was seen multiple times from the sideline waving and demanding his players to fall back.
The two goals came courtesy of Yunus Musah and Ricardo Pepi. In the 49th minute Musah finished off a fantastic spell of play to open the scoring and his international account.
Yunus Musah scores his first international goal and the USMNT's first under Pochettino
Watch USA vs. Panama live on TNT and Max pic.twitter.com/MFHLxsZFUJ— B/R Football (@brfootball) October 13, 2024
The pass from his fellow AC Milan teammate Christian Pulisic was sublime as was the lead-up to the finish. More of that please.
Defensively the USMNT were shaky at times and Panama were unlucky to not get on the score sheet. Matt Turner, who has been criticized for his lack of minutes with Crystal Palace, proved he’s still got it with a key double save in the 52nd minute.
Incredible double save by Matt Turner
Watch USA vs. Panama live on TNT and Max pic.twitter.com/09ImM3hLZC— B/R Football (@brfootball) October 13, 2024
Panama could’ve equalized in the 87th minute but José Fajardo couldn’t supply the needed finish.
❌ ¡DE NO CREERSE!
Fajardo tenía el empate de Panamá y lo tiró por un ladoEstados Unidos 1-0 Panamá
EN VIVO @Telemundo y Telemundo APP ➡️ https://t.co/UkH91xiWaR#USMNTenTelemundo #FutbolUSA #USMNT pic.twitter.com/ZuvvmtS4yd
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) October 13, 2024
The openness of the U.S. backline will be something Pochettino needs to tweak ahead of the next friendly vs. Mexico on Tuesday.
Pepi played his role of super-sub when he netted his 11th career USMNT goal in the 94th minute.
Ricardo Pepi makes it 2-0 at the death
Watch USA play Mexico on Tuesday on TNT and Max pic.twitter.com/oMCNpMftsG— B/R Football (@brfootball) October 13, 2024
Yep. We’re winning the f*cking World Cup in two years.
The USMNT head to Mexico next to face El Tri in Guadalajara on Tuesday. This will be the first time in nearly a year that the U.S. have played outside of the States.
The last time the USMNT won abroad was the 1-0 win vs. Iran in the 2022 World Cup.
Good luck, Poch.
