By Alonso Contreras
Mauricio Pochettino made a successful start to his tenure as U.S. national team head coach, guiding the team to a 2-0 victory over Panama in a friendly match at Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas. Goals from Yunus Musah and Ricardo Pepi secured the win in what was a redemption game for the Americans, who were looking to avenge their Copa América elimination at the hands of the Panamanians.
The first half saw the U.S. dominate possession but fail to break through Panama's defense. However, just after the break in the 49th minute, Musah opened the scoring. The AC Milan midfielder found the back of the net for the first time in his 42 appearances for the U.S. after a brilliant play from captain Christian Pulisic, who delivered a perfect cross that Musah slotted home at the far post.
Musah’s goal marked a personal milestone, as he had previously recorded two assists for the national team but had yet to score. His strike also served as a fitting way to kick off the Mauricio Pochettino era, as the Argentine coach begins to reshape the team.
As the match approached its conclusion, it seemed that the U.S. would secure a narrow 1-0 win, but in stoppage time, Ricardo Pepi added a second goal. The 21-year-old PSV Eindhoven striker capitalized on a late opportunity in the 90+3rd minute to seal the victory and leave a lasting impression ahead of the team’s next friendly.
The U.S. now turns its focus to a high-profile clash against Mexico in Guadalajara on Tuesday. Although Pochettino’s squad boasts a majority of Europe-based players, two notable absentees were Tim Weah (Juventus) and Folarin Balogun (Monaco), both sidelined due to recent injuries. Nonetheless, captain Pulisic led by example, showing his importance as the team builds momentum under its new coach.
