October 13, (THEWILL) – Mauricio Pochettino made a successful debut as the United States coach with a 2-0 victory against Panama on Saturday. The former Tottenham, Paris Saint-Germain, and Chelsea manager, appointed last month, guided the team to their first win in eight matches.
Pochettino implemented a flexible 4-2-3-1 formation, with Aidan Morris playing a crucial role as the midfield anchor. The 22-year-old Middlesbrough player, who did not participate in the recent Copa America, delivered a strong performance that validated the new coach’s selection.
The United States dominated possession in the first half but struggled to create clear opportunities. Panama, who had previously defeated the USA in the Copa America, remained a threat on the counter-attack. The breakthrough came four minutes after half-time when Yunus Musah scored his first international goal, finishing a well-worked move involving Christian Pulisic and Brenden Aaronson.
Panama responded with increased pressure, forcing USA goalkeeper Matt Turner into a double save. However, the United States sealed their victory in added time when substitute Ricardo Pepi converted a cross from Haji Wright to make it 2-0.
Pochettino expressed satisfaction with the result but emphasised that this was only the beginning of the team’s development process. The coach’s focus remains on preparing the squad for the 2026 World Cup, which the United States will co-host with north American neighbours Canada and Mexico.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
