The Mauricio Pochettino era for the U.S. men’s national team is off and running.
Playing its first match since the hiring of the big-name coach in August, the USMNT didn’t disappoint with a 2-0 win over Panama in a friendly Saturday night at Q2 Stadium. Yunus Musah and Ricardo Pepi scored second-half goals in a performance that was more businesslike than dominating.
Here are some grades from the match as the team will head to Guadalajara, Mexico, for a friendly with El Tri in its final tuneup before CONCACAF Nations League contests in November:
First half: Grade the USMNT at B+
The team was at its best in the game’s run of play in the opening 25 minutes when it dominated possession and created multiple scoring chances. Yet it had nothing to show for it. (In a bit of irony, it’s a situation that Austin FC media joked it has seen multiple times in this stadium in the past four months.)
Mark McKenzie missed a wide-open header in the box early on, and just before the break, Josh Sargent couldn’t finish what should have been an easy unmarked volley. It easily could have been 3-0 at the break if the USMNT had been clinical with its chances.
Other than that, the team was crisp in passing, had plenty of energy and seemed to understand what Pochettino wanted everyone to do. Panama had no notable offensive chances and was constantly on its back foot.
In no surprise, star forward Christian Pulisic was very good with distribution and with runs in Panama’s half of the field, while Antonee Robinson, Gianluca Busio and Brenden Aaronson all had quality halves. If the first half is a sign of things to come, USMNT fans should be excited for the future.
Second half: Grade the USMNT at B-
The second half was a different story apart from the goals, which were both from quality stretches.
In the 49th minute, Musah capitalized on a brilliant run of play that began with Robinson making a run down the left side and keeping possession while holding off a Panama defender. He eventually got the ball to Pulisic, who had a nice give-and-go with Aaronson before crossing the ball to Musah for an easy goal. Ricardo Pepi, who seemingly always scores at Q2 Stadium, whether for club or country , did what he needed to in stoppage time with a solid pass from Haji Wright for the second goal.
But in the time between the goals, the USMNT gradually got worse.
It wasn’t poor by any means, but it seemed to wear down, and Panama had several scoring chances that it didn’t take advantage of. The team defense was collectively subpar after the 60th minute, and subs Tanner Tessmann, Kristoffer Lund, Alejandro Zendejas and Malik Tillman didn’t have much of an impact. The USMNT was chasing for a lot of the final 30 minutes.
Goalie Matt Turner had two exceptional saves moments after Musah’s goal to keep the match tied, and the team caught some breaks with Panama not putting several shots on goal.
If the USMNT hadn’t scored in the second half, this grade would be worse.
Overall: Give the USMNT a B
The team will have to play better for the full 90 minutes to have a chance for a win on the road in Mexico on Tuesday. But results in friendlies aren’t all that important. Panama is a respectable side, and this was an adequate showing for a roster that is shorthanded and met its coach earlier in the week.
As Pochettino noted Friday , the most important aspects for training camp and these two friendlies are for the players to learn his philosophy and to get to know him and the coaching staff.
No one will remember this match when Nations League matches begin in five weeks, and the team Pochettino fields could be drastically different with other players who are still in Europe getting healthy.
Man of the match: Matt Turner
The goalie was in top form and prevented the possibility of a draw. His saves in the 53rd minute were reminders of why he plays in the English Premier League and was the 2021 MLS goalkeeper of the year.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Grading the U.S. men's national team in Mauricio Pochettino's coaching debut
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