A new manager and an undisputed star made things easy for the USMNT in their Nations League quarterfinal rout of Jamaica
There were laughs, smiles and hugs at full time. St. Louis, in the pouring rain, was a jovial place, 20-plus USMNT players applauding the fans and taking in the scene after what was, in reality, a comfortable victory. And it was something worthy of celebration. This is a reshaped team, under a new manager, doing away with an inferior opponent. It's hard to feel good about all of this.
The USMNT were supposed to win here, and still managed to surpass expectations. What started last Thursday in a gusty, ugly, scrappy 1-0 win in Kingston against Jamaica in the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinals was built upon in a fluid, fun and triumphant 4-2 battering Monday night.
Yes, Jamaica were poor – and yes those two goals conceded will annoy the manager. But these are the kinds of games the USMNT should be winning, and they made it look awfully easy.
It has been clear, for some time now, that this team will live and die with the quality of Christian Pulisic. And he was at the center of it all again on Monday night. He bagged the first, darting between two defenders and meeting Weston McKennie's pass in stride – and offering a delightful side-footed finish on the half volley. The second and third came shortly after – Pulisic bagged the next one, his deflected effort finding the bottom corner. And his clever run manufactured the third, which Ricardo Pepi will deservedly grab plaudits for after a wonderful spin and lasered effort from outside the box.
But more broadly, this is about Mauricio Pochettino and what might come from this side. So much has been made of his start as U.S. manager. An opening win against Panama last month showed promise, before a resounding loss to Mexico reflected just how tough of an assignment this could be. If there were any questions – there still are, only fewer now – then most were answered as emphatically as possible.
There was a real swagger to this performance, passes zipped around, and the right runs made in correspondence. All of the little things were on display. When Pulisic was clattered early in the second half, a Jamaican center back was greeted with the ire of five white jerseys. There was visible anger when Jamaica pulled a goal back on 53 minutes – and a fourth from Tim Weah to make sure the lead stayed steady. There will be remarks made about "resilience" and "fight" and "heart."
Weah said as much after the game: "Just a lot of grit, playing together as a family. Giving 100 percent for each other. I think that’s we did today. And we can all be happy and look forward to something special."
And those are all true. But more than anything, this was a team defending its home, and showing a weaker opponent exactly what being the better team should look like. That, if nothing else, is something to build on.
GOAL breaks down the winners and losers from Energizer Park.
GettyWINNER: Mauricio Pochettino
So here we are, four games in to the Pochettino era in the United States. And so far, things are good. Three wins, all against inferior opponents. The one loss came with what can kindly be described as a reserve team in the most hostile of venues to throw out an XI consisting mostly of children. And if the two fixtures against Jamaica are the games that Pochettino can truly analyze, then there are lots of good things here.
The U.S. can attack very well. They move the ball, make the right runs, and scored four wonderful goals on Monday night. They use their best player to great effect, and for long periods look pretty good defensively. Performance on the pitch notwithstanding, this is largely credit to their manager.
Pochettino is showing signs that he knows what this all means. He refers to it, literally all the time. The 2026 World Cup is just around the corner. Expectations will be high. He has to get this thing working, and do so quickly. So far, four games in, job done. You wanted an elite coach? Here he is.
AdvertisementGettyLOSER: Steve McClaren
In the other dugout was another new manager. He was a confusing appointment for the Reggae Boyz – largely out of the popular footballing consciousness and perhaps politely remembered as the man who couldn't get England to Euro 2008. Given the mess of a football federation he has to work with, this was always going to be a difficult job.
And it proved to be as such. Jamaica were poor throughout the two legs, never really creating much and making mistakes aplenty. Sure, they were outclassed, but they also made it very easy for the U.S. at times. It was a defensive collapse that handed the USMNT their only goal in Kingston, while some tighter marking could have prevented one or two here.
Not all of this is on the manager, of course. Remember, this is a team that left two players in Jamaica because they lost their passports. But this is a new face and a volatile football federation. He may not have many chances to prove that he can steer this project the right way.
ImagnWINNER: Christian Pulisic
It would make sense, when you hve a star player, to build a team around him. Gregg Berhalter never quite did that for the USMNT, asking Pulisic to do a lot of good things without setting his side up in a way that allowed him to flourish. Here, though, the Milan man has been afforded that opportunity in full.
And on Monday night, he made the most of it. Pulisic scored the first, was credited with the second, and played a key role in the third, serving as the clear focal point of this side. And he did all of the bits in between, too, going on some signature marauding runs, while also linking up effectively with the rest of the USMNT attack. It wasn't all perfect – there were a few weaker defensive moments and a couple of dribbles into blind alleys. But otherwise, this was a clinic on how to be a star player. He knows it.
"We should definitely feel good after these results. We’re obviously learning a lot of new things. Obviously with a new coach, some things have changed and it connected well today, and hopefully we can just continue to improve," he said after the game.
Getty ImagesLOSER: Gio Reyna
Oh Gio, where are you? What's wrong with you? And are you ever going to make it in this USMNT side? Melodrama aside, the injured Reyna might have a real struggle getting into this team. He certainly has the talent, but right now, it's ticking along rather nicely.
And where, exactly, does he play? Weston McKennie and Yunush Musah, his two most obvious competitors, have been among the better players this camp. It would seem a bit risky to play him in a deeper position – where Tanner Tessman has also had his moments.
Based on everything Pochettino has said, the midfielder will get his chance, or at least a call up to a camp – if fit. A start, and extended run in the side, might be harder to come by.