The Mauricio Pochettino era began with a win when the U.S. men’s national team defeated Panama 2-0 in Austin, Texas, on Saturday.
Yunus Musah scored his first international goal in the 49th minute and Ricardo Pepi added an insurance goal in the fourth minute of stoppage time off an assist by Haji Wright.
Matt Turner made three saves to record the shutout.
A well-played build-up led to the opening goal. Antonee Robinson was on the left wing when he passed to Christian Pulisic, who did a give-and-go with Brenden Aaronson inside the box.
Pulisic sent a perfect pass to the 6-yard box, where Musah was able to slot the ball into the goal with his right foot.
Pochettino was hired Sept. 10 after the firing of Gregg Berhalter, which was proceeded by the U.S. failing to advance from the group stage of Copa America this summer. A 2-1 loss to Panama in the second match weighed heavily in the decision to move the program in a different direction.
Panama attempted to become the third CONCACAF team in U.S. modern soccer history (since 1990) to defeat the U.S. in consecutive matches.
Pochettino, 52, a defender who made 20 appearances for the Argentine national team, from 1999-2002, had a long coaching career in Europe at places such as Tottenham Hotspur, Paris Saint-Germain and most recently Chelsea, but this is his first time in charge of a national team.
His indoctrination will continue Tuesday when the U.S. plays rival Mexico in Guadalajara, Mexico.
Neither team could find the breakthrough in the first half, each having one shot on goal, although the U.S. had a 6-5 edge in shot attempts.
The best opportunity for the Americans came in the 39th minute, when Aaronson was able to get behind the defense and fire an open shot from outside the box that Orlando Mosquera saved.
–Field Level Media
