The best proof of the distinction in the US males’s nationwide staff with Mauricio Pochettino in cost was the smile on Yunus Musah’s face 49 minutes right into a meaningless sport that might not have meant extra.
It was only a pleasant, and solely towards Panama, however this was step one towards the 2026 FIFA World Cup the USMNT would take with Pochettino as their head coach. The efficiency didn’t seem, in its entirety, to be the design of a $6 million man, however then got here Musah’s second, which had begun to look extra elusive with every look he made.
He lastly scored.
His first worldwide aim was the game-winner for the U.S. in a 2-Zero victory over Panama at Q2 Stadium in Austin, giving Pochettino a debut that may seem extra enticing within the staff’s historical past than it was on the sector.
The primary aim of the Mauricio Pochettino period belongs to Yunus Musah!
His first for the #USMNT!! pic.twitter.com/bMd6ANOJhf
— U.S. Soccer Males’s Nationwide Group (@USMNT) October 13, 2024
Pochettino expressed he was “so completely satisfied … actually, actually completely satisfied” with the trouble from the gamers and workers to adapt shortly to one another and to new concepts about the right way to play. There have been solely 4 days of coaching earlier than this primary sport.
“I feel it’s wonderful in the best way they had been targeted and concentrated and tried to comply with the plan,” Pochettino stated. “It’s pretty apparent that we wished to dominate, however we all know that the staff we confronted … they’re very athletic, they’re an excellent staff, and it was going to be tough. The primary half, we didn’t concede an opportunity. We created some probabilities.
“I feel it was a really skilled efficiency, and from there may be the premise for step one, to begin to develop and be higher.”
The USMNT wanted Musah’s aim, as a result of producing alternatives was not simple all through the sport. They possessed the ball solely 55 p.c of the time, low for the Individuals towards CONCACAF opposition apart from Mexico, and scored on two of the three authentic probabilities they generated. The second aim got here in further time and clinched the win, scored by alternative striker Ricardo Pepi, and the opposite was a shot starter Josh Sargent blew over the aim off a phenomenal feed from Giancarlo Busio.
Panama generated two nice probabilities, however whiffed on each, and spent far an excessive amount of time jamming up the area in entrance of U.S. goalkeeper Matt Turner and acquired off 9 pictures from contained in the field. He made two good saves within the 53rd minute, one instantly after the opposite, and saved the shutout intact.
Musah’s aim was a flash of magnificence that made the opposite 89 minutes worthwhile. Nonetheless simply 21, Musah earned his 41st cap for the U.S., however this was totally different in additional than the obvious manner. He was assigned as the correct midfielder in a 4-2-3-1 formation, after taking part in most of his early profession extra towards the middle, first as a ground-chewing, ball-controlling midfielder in a 4-3-Three and currently as a holding midfielder within the absence of injured star Tyler Adams. Musah didn’t play poorly, however neither did he play like Yunus Musah.
Pochettino stated he hoped to re-energize Musah, who had been probably the greatest U.S. gamers on the 2022 World Cup although he was 19 years outdated for many of it. Providing him extra offensive accountability did precisely that.
He scored his aim after three teammates mixed on the left aspect to generate the chance, with left again Jedi Robinson preventing off a defender to get the ball towards Christian Pulisic on the left of the penalty space. He rolled it to Brenden Aaronson, then minimize towards the tip line and was returned the ball. Pulisic lashed throughout in entrance of aim, and Musah got here streaking in from the correct and leaped to make strong contact along with his boot. The ball flew into the again of the online.
He nonetheless was smiling an hour later.
“I’m so completely satisfied,” Musah advised Turner Sports activities. “I’ve been dreaming about it for therefore lengthy.”
Musah was happy with the chance to play his total shift on the correct, one of many few instances – if not the one one – he has been stationed in that place for the USMNT. Pochettino coached Tottenham Hotspur when Musah was within the academy of London archrival Arsenal F.C., and he remembered his work there.
Pochettino made the transfer particularly to assist construct Musah’s confidence.
“I may see, to begin with, he is aware of rather a lot about my background. He is aware of about my academy days, taking part in at Valencia, all the things – that’s why immediately I performed huge,” Musah stated. “As a result of he is aware of I can play huge, as nicely. It’s good to have a coach who is aware of about me, has a variety of religion in me.”
