10/12/24 10:22:00
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10/12 22:20 CDT Pochettino wins US debut as Musah and Pepi score second-half
goals in 2-0 victory over Panama
Pochettino wins US debut as Musah and Pepi score second-half goals in 2-0
victory over Panama
By JIM VERTUNO
AP Sports Writer
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) --- Mauricio Pochettino won his debut as U.S. coach, getting
a 49th-minute goal from Yunus Musah off an assist from AC Milan teammate
Christian Pulisic and a stoppage-time strike from Ricardo Pepi for a 2-0 win
over Panama on Saturday night.
The match in front of a near-capacity crowd of 20,239 at Q2 Stadium was the
first of two friendlies for the U.S. in a four-day span that includes a game
against Mexico on Tuesday in Guadalajara. The Americans ended a four-game
winless stretch and their first four-game home 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 hired last month to replace Gregg Berhalter, who was fired in
July after first-round elimination at the Copa America. Pochettino was given a
contract through the 2026 World Cup that the U.S. will co-host and tasked with
sparking a team that has not reached the World Cup quarterfinals since 2002
"Little by little building something. The objective is 2026," Pochettino said.
"It's only the first step."
Musah scored his first goal in 42 international appearances.
Antonee Robinson worked around defender Michael Murillo on a flank and centered
to Pulisic, who exchanged passes with Brenden Aaronson and one-timed a cross.
Musah beat defender Csar Blackman and redirected the ball with a right-foot
volley past Orlando Mosquera from 4 yards for his first goal in 42
international appearances.
Pulisic played a match with his eighth U.S. coach, a record for an American
player. The U.S. was missing injured regulars Sergio Dest, Tyler Adams, Gio
Reyna, Tim Weah and Folarin Balogun,
Three second-half subs combined for the second goal in the fourth minute of
stoppage time. Malik Tillman brought down a kick from goalkeeper Matt Turner
and passed to Haji Wright, who crossed. A Texas native, Pepi slid the ball
through Mosquera's legs for his 11th goal in 31 appearances --- his fourth in
three international games in Austin.
Turner. who played all four matches at the 2022 World Cup. made a double save
in the 52nd minute, batting Puma Rodrguez's shot with his left hand, then
diving back in front to get his body in front of Yoel Brcenas' attempt off the
rebound.
Panama's Jos Fajardo put an open shot wide in the 87th minute.
Tim Ream captained the Americans one week after his 37th birthday and became
the oldest U.S. field player since Preki Radosavljevic in 2001. Forward Josh
Sargent made his first start since the 2022 group-stage final against Iran.
Mexican referee Katia Garcia was believed to be the first woman to referee a
U.S. men's national team match.
Goalkeeper Zack Steffen, who hasn't played for the U.S. since the last World
Cup qualifiers in March 2022, did not dress because of what the U.S. Soccer
Federation said was a minor injury. Defender Marlon Fossey, who did not train
on the field in recent days, also didn't dress.
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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
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