Mauricio Pochettino is an Argentine soccer manager who has taken over the head job of the United States men’s national soccer team vacated by Greg Berhalter. Here are five things you may not know about Pochettino as he prepares to don the red, white and blue.
The U.S. men's national team is moving on.
The Stars and Stripes on Monday easily cruised past Jamaica in the second leg of the Concacaf Nations League quarterfinals.
After winning 1-0 on the road on Thursday, the U.S. had a more comfortable X-X result at Energizer Park in St. Louis.
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Christian Pulisic had a brace within 33 minutes, his first coming in the 14th after an exquisite lobbed pass from Weston McKennie. Pulisic connected first time before goalie Andre Blake could arrive.
PERFECT PASS. PERFECT FINISH.
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) November 19, 2024
Christian Pulisic opens the scoring as the USA takes a 2-0 aggregate lead over Jamaica!
📺 NBC Universo and Peacock pic.twitter.com/JQhocYmgEz
McKennie again got on the assist sheet for Pulisic's brace in the 33rd. After running down the full right flank, McKennie gave a cutback cross that midfielder Tanner Tessman faked, opening the angle for Pulisic. The shot took a deflection and rolled in.
Another Christian Pulisic effort deflects into the bottom corner as the USA extends their advantage!
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) November 19, 2024
📺 NBC Universo and Peacock pic.twitter.com/Kf8VGYuDoJ
Soccer
The U.S. found a third a few minutes before halftime. After helping win a duel, left-back Antonee Robinson fed Ricardo Pepi, the lone scorer of the first leg, who faked a one-two pass to turn and fire, which just snuck into the bottom right corner.
The USMNT is on fire. 🔥
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) November 19, 2024
Ricardo Pepi adds another with a clean finish in first half stoppage time!
📺 NBC Universo and Peacock pic.twitter.com/U3HiOj5PmE
Rain then fell in bunches to open the second half, where Jamaica managed to claw one back.
Midfielder Isaac Hayden clipped in a cross with his weak foot, to which former Premier League forward Demarai Gray rose to finish nicely past Matt Turner in the 53rd.
But the U.S. managed to find a quick response under rising some rising pressure. Robinson made a brilliant run after cutting inside into midfield, where the ball eventually shifted to midfielder Yunus Musah. Musah delivered a cross back to the opposite left flank where Tim Weah, who drilled the post in the opening minutes, got on the scoresheet with a power strike.
OH MY TIMOTHY WEAH. 😳
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) November 19, 2024
📺 NBC Universo and Peacock pic.twitter.com/0nlccTsKYT
Jamaica didn't back down from that point on, though. Gray made it a brace for himself in the 68th minute after quickly tapping home a poor parry attempt from Turner, which came right in his path.
Pulisic and McKennie then made way for Brendan Aaronson and Gianluca Busio a minute later, while Cade Cowell, Brandon Vazquez and Alex Zendejas all entered in 77th, 78th and 88th minutes.
The U.S. ended the game with 68% possession, seven shots on target and three big chances. Jamaica had six shots on target and two big chances, so manager Mauricio Pochettino will need to find ways to lower that total given the side's lack of possession.
Panama, Costa Rica, Mexico, Honduras, Canada and Suriname are all still alive in the tournament. The next FIFA-recognized international break isn't until March 2025.
