USMNT captain Christian Pulisic was the difference maker and assisted the opening goal after 49 minutes, combining with Brenden Aaronson before firing a cross into the path of AC Milan teammate Yunus Musah. It was Musah's first goal in USMNT colors on his 42nd appearance for the nation, and he had his club teammate to thank.
Substitute Ricardo Pepi made sure of victory in the final seconds with a finish from close range creeping under Panama goalkeeper Orlando Mosquera. The USMNT deserved its win, but it all came after the game was changed by Pulisic at the start of the second half.
Pochettino gave Pulisic high praise ahead of Saturday's game, and the captain made sure not to disappoint his new head coach. "I think he's a fantastic player, one of the best offensive players in the world," Pochettino said before facing Panama.
The USMNT coach later added: "I told him before to build a very good relationship with the club and try to help. And when we really need him, he needs to be in form, happy, strong and the quality is there because he has an enormous talent."
The first half was tense as Panama sensed that the USMNT was under pressure to perform, and the players were adapting to Pochettino's methods. However, Pochettino said all the right things during the interval as the USMNT came out with a point to prove in the second half.
USMNT goalkeeper Matt Turner kept them in the game with a heroic double save to keep the lead intact, with his efforts a perfect example of the belief that's been restored since U.S. Soccer made the head coaching change. The USMNT suffered a 2-1 defeat to Panama just 107 days ago in Copa America, before exiting the competition at the group stage.
It was a performance that led to the dismissal of Berhalter and the hunt for a top head coach to oversee the home 2026 World Cup. Former Tottenham, Chelsea, and Paris Saint-Germain head coach Pochettino was then hired by U.S. Soccer and has made an instant impression on the players.
Following the disappointing performance at Copa America in the summer, the USMNT then suffered a 2-1 home defeat to Canada for the first time since 1957. A 1-1 draw against New Zealand followed before Pochettino officially started his role, and his early training sessions were more intense according to defender Antonee Robinson.
"Yeah, straight away it seems a little bit more intense," Robinson said on Oct. 8. "Yesterday we were kind of straight into training and it was a tough session. So we were kind of, right away, we were here to work. So, it was definitely intense.
"[Pochettino] knows that we've got a short period of time to kind of understand the principles he wants us to play with and tactics and whatnot, which we've not really gotten into yet. So, yes, obviously small steps, but it definitely feels like camp's going to be a period where, we'll have time to enjoy it, but we're going to work hard and really build towards success."
The difference between MLS coaches and International coaches….the difference between the MLS and EPL, Ligue 1, La Liga. It’s incredible, there are 0 comparisons, Berhalter is not the guy.
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