Mauricio Pochettino coached the U.S. Men’s National Team (USMNT) to a decisive 6-0 victory over Haiti in the first leg of the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal on Saturday. This match marks Pochettino’s second-to-last game as head coach, as he is set to take the reins at Manchester United on November 18.
The USMNT’s performance included several standout players, and anticipation builds for the second leg on Tuesday, where Pochettino’s tenure is expected to conclude with a celebratory atmosphere.
Player Ratings from the Match
Diego Kochen: 6 — The young goalkeeper made a commendable save in the first half but had a significant misjudgment in the second, nearly allowing a goal that was ruled offside. Kochen remains in contention for the starting goalkeeper position.
Antonee Robinson: 6.5 — Robinson delivered an assist and created two scoring opportunities, showcasing impressive first-touch control.
Auston Trusty: 7.5 — Trusty, making his first appearance for the USMNT following his father’s passing, scored a goal and strengthened his case for a starting position alongside Chris Richards.
Chris Richards: 6 — Richards played well overall but made a critical error that led to a one-on-one chance for Haiti, saved by Kochen.
Alex Freeman: 7 — He contributed an assist and was effective in defending the right side throughout the match.
Tyler Adams: 7.5 — Adams excelled in winning duels and demonstrated impressive passing skills, illustrating his ability to control the game from midfield.
Sebastian Berhalter (Off 66′): 6.5 — He offered solid set-piece delivery but was somewhat careless with the ball despite his energetic play.
Weston McKennie (Off 81′): 7 — McKennie’s fit return to the USMNT was marked by a goal, though he faced mixed results with other goal-scoring attempts.
Malik Tillman (Off 86′): 7.5 — Tillman had another productive outing, registering two assists and creating three chances for his teammates.
Christian Pulisic (Off 81′): 8 — Pulisic converted a penalty and scored another goal, leading all players with touches in the opposition’s box.
Julian Hall (Off 66′): 8 — The 18-year-old had a limited number of touches during his appearance but made a significant impact by scoring a goal and assisting Pulisic in winning a penalty.
Substitutes
Folarin Balogun (On 66′): 7.5 — Balogun had a goal controversially disallowed but scored shortly after his return to the pitch.
Bryan Reynolds (On 66′): 6
Mathis Albert (On 81′): N/A
Adri Mehmeti (On 81′): 7 — Mehmeti quickly made an impression and played a key role in Balogun’s goal.
Justin Ellis (On 86′): N/A
