It's a massive weight off of the United States men's national team's shoulders as they secured a signature victory under Mauricio Pochettino, dispatching Japan 2-0 in a friendly on Tuesday. The Samurai Blue may have made 11 changes from their match against Mexico, but that can't take away from the USMNT defeating the 17th-ranked team in the world in a shutout fashion.
Pochettino saw the good from facing South Korea and went out with a back three and opted to start this match in the same way with Tim Ream, Chris Richards, and Tristan Blackmon all in defense. He shook things up with five changes overall as Max Arfsten and Alex Freeman made up his wing backs, and the duo were able to push the attack forward with Arfsten assisting an Alex Zendejas goal before Christian Pulisic assisted a Folarin Balogun goal of his own.
It's just what the USMNT needed, and it's the first time that they've defeated a top-20 ranked FIFA team since Iran at the 2022 World Cup. It may have been a rotated Japan, but this also isn't the USMNT's top squad with players such as Weston McKennie and Malik Tillman missing. It's a result that gives Pochettino something to think about, but more importantly, it gives him something to build upon ahead of the October international window that will see the USMNT face Ecuador and Australia.
Matt Freese had another busy day in net, making six saves and preventing 1.55 goals during the match. He could have done better on crosses, but as Japan kept upping the pressure as the match continued, he rose to the occasion, and it's clear that the 27-year-old is growing during his time with the national team. After starting all of the Gold Cup matches for the USMNT and keeping his place for these friendlies, Freese is looking like the favorite to start in net the World Cup. He's in line with Zack Steffen for goals prevented in league play in MLS, and the duo only trail Sean Johnson among American keepers domestically. With Steffen's inconsistent history and Johnson's age, it puts Freese in the pole position for the number one shirt, even with Matt Turner back in the lineup starting for the New England Revolution.
A few other MLS players made their mark in the match in Max Arfsten and Alex Freeman. Both have shown that they've earned Pochettino's trust, starting as the wing backs in the match, even with Sergino Dest in the squad. Arfsten delivered an excellent assist and was everywhere in the USMNT attack, while Freeman did a lot of defensive work in keeping Japan at bay on his own flank. Both have shown that they need to be in the mix for the World Cup squad, but the question will be if there is enough space for both when the roster squeeze comes.
Call it What You Want: A weekly podcast where Jimmy Conrad, Charlie Davies and Tony Meola cover all things USMNT and the state of the beautiful game in the United States. Catch the show YouTube live every Tuesday and Thursday at 10 a.m. ET.
While there were questions surrounding who the starting nine will be at the World Cup, Balogun showed why he was an exciting dual-national recruit from England. Due to missing time with an injury, this was Balogun's first start under Pochettino, and he did the most he could with his touches, taking four shots and putting three of them on target. He even took things into his own hands, dribbling through Japan's defense for his goal. Balogun was the favorite to start when the World Cup rolled around, but facing Japan, he was able to display why that should be the case. This team opens a different dimension due to Balogun's movement and interchange with Pulisic, making the entire attack more dangerous as a whole.
It's the first time that the USMNT rolled out a back three to start a match under Pochettino, and it worked to a great effect. Plenty of the players are used to these systems for their clubs, and that comfort translated to the national team as well. This isn't going to work against every team, but it's important that Pochettino showed flexibility in his setup because it will give the USMNT more of a chance to win games against teams like Japan when they're at full strength. They may not even start their next game in a three-man defense, but it's a new tool for the USMNT and one that they were able to execute well despite there being pressure on the team. That's impressive to do midstream in a camp.
Alex Zendejas and Folarin Balogun found the back of the net, and the USMNT were able to topple the 17th ranked team in the world. Japan may have rotated their side after facing Mexico, but with Mauricio Pochettino shifting his setup, opting for a back three, it's an important result that shows growth on the eve of the Argentine being in charge of the USMNT for a year.
Downs will enter, but Balogun leaves to applause. With a goal in the match, has he cemented his spot as the starting striker for the USMNT at the World Cup?
Even by the stats, the USMNT have controlled this match with almost 60% of possession and eight shots on target. Fresh legs are on the pitch, and there's enough time to get a third goal before this is said and done.
The starters are coming in the 61st minute as Mitoma, Minamino, and Kamada will all enter. This is going to give the Japan attack a very different look for the remainder of the match while giving the USMNT an additional challenge to adjust to.
That was a great moment to see Pulisic take the game into how own hands, dribbling through Japan's defense for a shot on target. The USMNT will want these to become goals, but as long as they can keep pressure up, there's a chance at a result in this one.
The USMNT are finding it harder to complete passes out of the break but with some one touch passing, Pulisic did test Osako in net. This could be a very different second half compared to how the first ended, as the USMNT have a free kick in a dangerous position.
Seko is coming in to start the second half for Nagatomo. There are no changes for the USMNT as they look to go out and finish off this victory.
It's a good showing for the back three, even with Pulisic and Balogun not bringing their shooting boots to the match. It's worth noting that Japan made 11 changes from facing Mexico, but the USMNT will take all the positives that they can get.
Chris Richards was called into action with a few clearances as while the half comes to a close, Japan have been able to get some good looks from outside the box. It hasn't led to a goal yet, but they're creating scary moments for the USMNT.
That goal is a massive moment for the USMNT. After their string of losses, it was important to get the first goal against Japan so that the crowd could get behind then. This is the first lead that the SUMNT have held in a match since the Gold Cup final against Mexico when Chris Ricards scored four minutes into the match. Now they'll have to ensure that it ends differently from that match.
For the second match in a row, a keeper has executed a double save on Balogun when he has gotten into a good position. Alex Zendejas wasn't able to turn the follow up into a goal, but these chances have to become goals for the USMNT because they don't know when the next ones will come.
Freese was called into action from a Fujita cross, which he parried into the path of Maeda. Luckily, the Celtic man was judged to be offside, but that's the best chance for either team as we reach the 10 minute point of the match.
It's handled well by the USMNT defense as Matt Freese directs his line. It's a slow start so far but no one is complaining with this, giving the USMNT time to ease into the match.
Folarin Balogun gets in on the fun! After Alex Zendejas opened the scoring, Balogun gives the USMNT an insurance goal before more changes are made with Jack McGlynn, Sergino Dest, Tyler Adams, Luca De La Torre and Diego Luna all entering the match.
We're just about underway in Columbus.
Despite the changes for the USMNT, it's tough to see them winning this one, even with Japan also rotating ahead of the match. It's something that the USMNT will want to keep close, and with a back three, they'll have more on their side defensively in order to do that. Cristian Roldan will be one to watch in midfield because if he can link up play between defense and attack, that's where the USMNT will be able to break through in the match. Score: USMNT 1, Japan 1
Pochettino designated the September friendlies as a final chance for his player pool expansion project, an experiment that is starting to cut into time for the team to build chemistry with about 10 matches left on the schedule before the World Cup. The USMNT seemed to suffer from a lack of cohesion against South Korea, with Pochettino using 14 different lineups in 17 matches so far, but he vehemently defended his squad selection in a press conference on Monday.
"Also, we need to understand, too, that we need to have quite [a] roster and players that we need to know and give the possibility to play," he said, "because if we only work with a few players but the moment after [they] arrive [on] the roster and some guys arrives with injuries and cannot play, cannot be in the roster. [At] the World Cup, it's not a moment to make tests or to give the possibility to get experience. That is why you cannot be surprised."
Pochettino also said some of his squad selections are made with players' varying fitness levels in mind, at one point citing Malik Tillman. The midfielder broke out during the Concacaf Gold Cup and earned a move to Bayer Leverkusen shortly after, but an injury disrupted his preseason and though he played 61 minutes for Leverkusen on Aug. 30, Pochettino felt including him would be too risky.
Those circumstances are also further motivation for Pochettino to test new players. Rotation is to be expected on Tuesday against Japan, with Pochettino teasing that players who did not play a big role against South Korea could do so for the final friendly of the international window. The hope, according to the head coach, is that the players with less experience will find a way to push more established players.
"Of course I want to win but also, we need to think in the process and to give the possibility to players to perform and put in a very difficult situation, the coaching staff," he said, "because Tillman needs to know there's another guy in behind pushing, okay?"
The game state flipped a lot during the second half, in large part because South Korea had already built a comfortable lead. That tempo change was especially true as both teams made a batch of substitutions around the hour mark, most notable among them Pochettino's choice to bring in Chris Richards and play a back three, a rarely-used approach since the Argentine took the job last year.
Richards was unavailable to start after arriving at camp with a small issue but lined up alongside Tristan Blackmon, who made his debut on Saturday, and veteran Tim Ream. The switch created more defensive stability, with the USMNT conceding just one shot on target in the second half, and Pochettino admitted he may break out the tactic again in the future.
"It was a good opportunity for us, to start, to approach with a back four and how we are going to create the dynamics to play in the opposite half and how we will be with our fullbacks and other aspects in the game," Pochettino said on Monday. "Maybe we can use during the game or maybe we can start. We will see. We know but we cannot tell you. … Sometimes, you need to take some risks."
Sergino Dest will be benched to start this one as Pochettino starts out in a back three with Alex Freeman and Max Arfsten as wing backs. It's a major opportunity for the duo to show what they can do as spots in the World Cup roster are on the line.
USMNT starters: 1-Matt Freese,3-Chris Richards, 4-Tyler Adams, 10-Christian Pulisic, 13-Tim Ream (Capt..), 15-Tristan Blackmon, 16-Alex Freeman, 17-Alex Zendejas, 18-Max Arfsten, 20-Folarin Balogun, 24-Cristian Roldan
Substitutes: 12-Jonathan Klinsmann, 2-Sergiño Dest, 5-Noahkai Banks, 6-Jack McGlynn, 7-Diego Luna, 8-Sebastian Berhalter, 9-Josh Sargent, 11-Damion Downs, 14-Luca de la Torre, 19-Nathan Harriel, 21-Tim Weah
Date: Tuesday, Sept. 9 | Time: 7:30 p.m.
Location: Lower.com Field -- Columbus, Ohio
TV: TNT and Universo | Stream: Fubo (Try for free)
Odds: USMNT +210; Draw +240; Japan +120
We've got some changes from Mauricio Pochettino as not only will the USMNT be in a back three for this match, but they have also made five changes to his XI from facing South Korea. With Japan bringing a formidable test to the table, it will be a good time for the USMNT to see where they are as the September window comes to a close.
