Yunus Musah‘s first worldwide purpose and a late strike from Ricardo Pepi gave Mauricio Pochettino a victory in his first sport as United States males’s nationwide crew coach, with a 2-0 win over Panama in a pleasant in Austin, Texas, Saturday.
The match in entrance of a near-capacity crowd of 20,239 at Q2 Stadium was the primary of two friendlies for the U.S. in a four-day span that features a sport towards Mexico on Tuesday in Guadalajara. The U.S. ended a four-game winless stretch and its first four-game residence winless streak since a seven-game slide in 2010-11.
A 52-year-old Argentine who managed Tottenham, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain, Pochettino was employed final month to exchange Gregg Berhalter, who was fired in July after the USMNT’s first-round elimination on the Copa America. Pochettino was given a contract by means of the 2026 World Cup that the U.S. will co-host and is tasked with sparking a crew that has not reached the World Cup quarterfinals since 2002.
“Little by little constructing one thing. The target is 2026,” Pochettino mentioned. “It is solely step one.”
Musah stylishly volleyed residence a cross from AC Milan clubmate Christian Pulisic 4 minutes into the second half for the primary purpose of the Pochettino period and his first purpose in 42 appearances.
Antonee Robinson labored round defender Michael Murillo on the left flank and centered to Pulisic, who exchanged passes with Brenden Aaronson earlier than discovering Musah to redirect the ball with a right-foot volley previous Orlando Mosquera from 4 yards.
Pulisic performed a match together with his eighth U.S. coach, a report for an American participant.
Three second-half subs mixed for the second purpose. Malik Tillman introduced down a protracted ball from goalkeeper Matt Turner and handed to Haji Wright, who crossed. A Texas native, Pepi slid the ball by means of Mosquera’s legs for his eleventh purpose in 31 appearances.
The Pochettino occasion twice got here near being spoiled. Turner produced a powerful double save to maintain Panama at bay simply minutes after the U.S. took the lead. And U.S. hearts have been in mouth late on, too, as substitute José Fajardo missed a golden likelihood to convey Panama stage.
Tim Ream captained the Individuals one week after his thirty seventh birthday and have become the oldest U.S. subject participant since Preki in 2001. Ahead Josh Sargent made his first begin for the reason that 2022 group stage ultimate towards Iran.
Mexican referee Katia Garcia was believed to be the primary lady to referee a U.S. males’s nationwide crew match.
Goalkeeper Zack Steffen, who hasn’t performed for the U.S. for the reason that final World Cup qualifiers in March 2022, didn’t costume due to what the U.S. Soccer Federation mentioned was a minor harm. Defender Marlon Fossey, who didn’t practice on the sphere in current days, additionally did not costume.
Info from The Related Press contributed to this report.