Getting an extended look at depth options during January camp, Mauricio Pochettino named his youngest ever squad as manager of the United States men's national team and they rolled to a 3-1 victory over Venezuela in Fort Lauderdale on Saturday. While Pochettino would've wanted to keep a clean sheet, it's hard to not be happy with a result that saw three players pick up their first goals for the USMNT while numerous debuts were handed out. It was a match where players from various different backgrounds also showed what they can offer the national team with Jack McGlynn and Matko Miljevic both scoring and assisting goals. Charlotte FC striker Patrick Agyemang also found the back of the net and could've had more goals if this team had more time together.
Rust could be seen as these players are getting into regular season form for play in Major League Soccer but with the USMNT playing a composed match and looking for through balls, a proactive style could be seen. This is the longest time that Pochettino has had with a group of players in his brief tenure as manager and the results were evident.
Venezuela may not have had their top team either with this match taking place outside of a standard FIFA international window but that doesn't mean that players who performed Saturday won't have a chance to become mainstays under Pochettino.
Next up for the USMNT will be a clash against Costa Rica on Wednesday.
Talk about starting 2025 off on the right foot. The USMNT were able to roll over Venezuela in Fort Lauderdale on Saturday via three goals from players making their first ever starts for the USMNT. It's the beginning of Mauricio Pochettino's first full year in charge of the USMNT and the progress could be seen with him having a significant amount of time to work with the group.
Indiana Vassilev is now in the match for Brian Gutierrez as Pochettino is capping new players left and right during this match. The St. Louis City winger is an exciting player and he'll have a bit of time to show what he can do.
This game is on skates now as a set piece ends up being the USMNT's undoing. A halftime sub for Venezuela, Jorge Yriarte was unmarked and made his chance count.
That was a thing of beauty as Matko Miljevic has now scored to make up for his penalty being saved. It was also a lovely pass to set things up from Jack McGlynn who now has a goal and an assist. That's three debut goals for the USMNT as he scores with his last touch of the game.
Diego Luna, Emeka Eneli, Brian White, and DeJuan Jones will enter with Agyemang, Cremaschi, Miljevic, and Arfsten exiting.
The second half has still seen the USMNT dominating possession but Venezuela has had the better chances on goal of the two teams. More chances are coming for La Vinotinto but the USMNT are leading the xG battle 2.01 to .29 with changes brewing.
If the defender stepped differently it may have been a penalty but Venezuela is still looking dangerous like they did to close out the first half of play. When the USMNT can get on the break, they can still make things happen but they haven't been able to do that as often as they'd like.
The USMNT will come back out with the same lineup that started the match while Venezuela will make two changes in an attempt to get back into the match. There may not be quickfire changes considering the departures from camp and another match coming on Wednesday.
Closing out the half, Venezuela has had their chances but the USMNT survived to the break. They'll want to tighten up defensively but there was a lot to like about how the first half went.
The ball got into the path of Agyemang and like a true striker, he darted directly at goal holding off his defender to bury a chance with two goals in two minutes for the USMNT. That's two first international goals checked off, how many are coming? Agyemang has become the 60th player to score on their USMNT debut with that.
Well the USMNT needed something and on a broken play Jack McGlynn unleashed quite a strike from outside the box and they now lead 1-0. It's a deserved lead as well.
The game has settled a bit since a quick start but that has been better news for Venezuela than the USMNT so far.
There arguably could've been another penalty as Agyemang was bear hugged in the box but the USMNT hasn't been able to turn their dominance in possession into shots. Venezuela hasn't done much either but eventually, the good passes need to be connected in the box or it could be good to take some shots from further out.
This time it was Arfsten who just missed Agyemang with his cross into the box. It's only a matter of time until the Charlotte FC man opens the scoring in Florida.
90 seconds into the match Agyemang was brought down as the Charlotte striker has been involved early. Matko Miljevic stepped up to take the penalty after a discussion with Jack McGlynn on who would get the chance and it was a tame take that was easily saved. He'll want that one back but he may not be getting another chance from the spot.
The USMNT has already shown that they're going to be looking for through balls early as Agyemang was played into space but there was a little too much on the pass. It'll certainly be a match where the USMNT would like to get a quick goal to settle nerves.
The anthems are underway and it's time for some soccer in Fort Lauderdale.
While this team may not have spent much time under Pochettino, this is a match where we'll get a great look at the Argentine's philosophy due to the USMNT getting more time than an average international break to train. That will be enough to push them to a victory in the match. Score: USMNT 3, Venezula 1
The midfielder is in line for his first cap with the USMNT after his contract expired with Newell's Old Boys but he has had quite the path here. He had his contract with CF Montreal terminated by Major League Soccer for something that sounds too strange to believe. When he wasn't getting consistent playing time, Miljevic used a fake name to sign up for an indoor soccer league in Quebec.
That alone is enough to get a contract terminated as playing in any league other than MLS violates a player's contract but it's how Miljevic was discovered to be playing in that league that really takes the cake. The midfielder was banned for life from the league due to punching another player in the face. One thing led to another and his contract was rescinded and he returned to Argentina but with a good camp here, there's every chance that things could come full circle with a return to MLS in the cards.
1-Wuilker Fariñez; 2-Carlos Vivas, 3-Anthony Graterol, 6-Bryant Ortega, 9-Jan Hurtado, 10-Juan Pablo Añor, 11-Jovanny BolÍvar, 14-Francisco La MantÍa, 15-Daniel Pereira, 16-Roberto Rosales (Capt.), 21-Gleiker Mendoza
Six players are set to get their first senior national team caps for the USMNT as Pochettino mixes the experience of Miles Robinson and Shaq Moore with youth options like Brian Gutierrez. There are also a few interesting debuts in Charlotte FC striker Patrick Agyemang and free agent Matko Miljevic.
USMNT Starting XI vs. Venezuela: 1-Patrick Schulte; 18-Shaq Moore, 20-George Campbell, 12-Miles Robinson (Capt.), 15-Max Arfsten; 6-Benjamin Cremaschi, 16-Jack McGlynn; 23-Caden Clark, 11-Matko Miljevic, 17-Brian Gutiérrez; 7-Patrick Agyemang
GOALKEEPERS (3): Matt Freese (New York City FC; 0/0), Patrick Schulte (Columbus Crew; 2/0), Zack Steffen (Colorado Rapids; 29/0)
DEFENDERS (7): Max Arfsten (Columbus Crew; 0/0), George Campbell (CF Montréal; 0/0), DeJuan Jones (Columbus Crew; 8/0), Shaq Moore (FC Dallas; 19/1), Tim Ream (Charlotte FC; 66/1), Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati; 30/3), Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC; 41/3)
MIDFIELDERS (4): Benjamin Cremaschi (Inter Miami CF; 1/0), Emeka Eneli (Real Salt Lake; 0/0), Diego Luna (Real Salt Lake; 1/0), Jack McGlynn (Philadelphia Union; 1/0)
FORWARDS (6): Patrick Agyemang (Charlotte FC; 0/0), Caden Clark (CF Montréal; 0/0), Brian Gutiérrez (Chicago Fire FC; 0/0), Matko Miljevic (Huracán/ARG; 0/0), Indiana Vassilev (St. Louis CITY SC; 0/0), Brian White (Vancouver Whitecaps FC; 1/0)
It's almost time to get things underway for the USMNT in Fort Lauderdale. While there's no way to tell what lineup Pochettino will go with, the goal will be to win as he stressed that this is a camp that's being taken seriously. With young players like Diego Luna involved, it's sure to be an exciting affair.
