EAST HARTFORD, Conn. — The U.S. males’s nationwide crew, with a squad that’s removed from full power, kicked off their Gold Cup preparation with a 2-1 loss to Turkey throughout a pleasant at Pratt & Whitney Stadium on Saturday.
Initially up 1-0 due to a first-minute aim from Jack McGlynn, the hosts then misplaced their lead with a fast set of objectives from Arda Güler and Kerem Aktürkoglu within the twenty fourth and twenty seventh minutes, respectively.
Subsequent up for the USMNT of their remaining Gold Cup preparation tune-up is a match towards Switzerland in Nashville, Tennessee on June 10. — Cesar Hernandez
Extra questions than solutions for Pochettino
Outdoors of McGlynn, and maybe Tyler Adams and Malik Tillman, it is powerful to search out many positives from the experimental XI that had a median age of 23.8.
Turkey received extra duels, aerial duels, and had the next success charge of tackles towards the Individuals, who appeared to lose the mentality recreation and depth because the match progressed — even if the house facet had a lot extra possession that led to substandard half possibilities.
The USMNT by no means mentally recovered after conceding these first-half objectives, and waiting for Switzerland, will probably be supervisor Mauricio Pochettino’s duty to search out different members of this makeshift roster who have been anticipated to and “struggle for a spot” within the 2026 FIFA World Cup squad.
In the mean time, lacking marquee members like Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Antonee Robinson, Sergiño Dest and a handful of others have left giant cleats which have but to be stuffed. If this crop of gamers does not present any enhancements or a stronger mentality towards Switzerland, it could possibly be an indication of a protracted — or maybe shorter than anticipated — summer season forward within the Gold Cup with no actual alternates stepping up within the depth chart. — Hernandez
Race for No. 9 place stays broad open
Patrick Agyemang hoped for a particular sort of homecoming, on condition that he was born and raised in East Hartford, the identical metropolis as Saturday’s venue. It wasn’t to be, whilst he was given the plumb task of the beginning striker function.
Agyemang use his dimension to good impact at occasions, and when it comes to physicality, gave nearly as good as he received from Turkey’s backline. However too typically his contact was missing, particularly on these events when Diego Luna performed passes into Agyemang’s toes. Agyemang wasn’t aim harmful, recording one shot on track within the 52nd minute that did not power a troublesome save.
The efficiency left Pochettino nonetheless searching for an answer on the No. 9 place.
Haji Wright received on the sphere for 25 minutes, however was deployed out broad versus a extra central function. He not often was concerned save for one late run when he dribbled straight into the toes of his opponent.
Agyemang was subbed out within the seventy fifth minute for Brian White, however the Vancouver Whitecaps striker barely received a sniff of the ball, recording simply seven touches.
What Pochettino does towards Switzerland in three days stays unsure, though it appears price giving FC Cologne ahead Damion Downs a shot, or shifting Wright into the center. — Jeff Carlisle
Cardoso nonetheless misfiring for the U.S.
Johnny Cardoso stays a sizzling commodity within the switch market following a stable season with Actual Betis, with Atlético Madrid anticipated to safe his signature. The New Jersey-born, Brazilian-raised midfielder has not often replicated his membership kind when donning a U.S. shirt, although.
Saturday proved to be extra of the identical. With the U.S. main 1-0, and Cardoso in full management of the ball, he tried to go out of his personal field, just for the supply to ricochet off of Güler and into the U.S. web. It is the sort of play one would not count on from a Sunday league participant, not to mention one in every of LaLiga’s extra extremely regarded performers.
The play shook the Individuals’ confidence, they usually conceded a second three minutes later.
It wasn’t the primary time Cardoso has disillusioned. In a pleasant towards Colombia previous to final yr’s Copa América, Cardoso was lackadaisical in coming to the ball, permitting the Cafeteros to counter and rating their fifth and remaining aim. In opposition to Turkey, it was one other careless play that led on to a aim.
Cardoso is within the lineup for his composure on the ball, but when he cannot showcase that trait, it is powerful to see him getting on the sphere.
The information surrounding the U.S. midfield wasn’t all unhealthy. Luca de la Torre was sharp within the first half, finishing 38 of 39 passes, and was brilliant all through. However there is not fairly sufficient metal when De la Torre and Cardoso are paired collectively.
Thankfully, Adams was out there, and Pochettino duly swapped the AFC Bournemouth midfielder in for Cardoso at halftime. The U.S. appeared extra stable within the middle of the park within the second half, though Turkey did not appear to be pushing ahead as a lot.
All instructed, it was a day when Cardoso fell a notch down the U.S. midfield depth chart. — Carlisle
Dest, Robinson replacements want to search out chemistry
Some slack ought to be given contemplating the inexperience of the fullbacks within the younger beginning XI, however Pochettino will nonetheless possible be sad with the following lack of cohesion in protection that quickly emerged within the first half.
At left again, Max Arfsten, who was incomes his fourth cap, struggled with successful duels and wasn’t in a position to join a lot of his crosses going ahead by his urgent runs. At proper again, the debut of Alex Freeman was common at finest, often permitting alternatives for Turkey to run into the ultimate third with harmful and speedy counters.
Coupled with Cardoso’s questionable begin in entrance of the backline, the defensive puzzle shortly grew to become scrambled when Turkey had possession, resulting in troublesome moments for Chris Richards and Miles Robinson within the coronary heart of all of it. Recognizing early on that the U.S. defensive experiment was proving to be porous, Turkey pounced on their recoveries within the remaining third and set the tone for the remainder of the match.
Pochettino can have little time to fine-tune his strategy and should have to proceed making an attempt new faces within the fullback spots that might, ideally, be led by absent starters Robinson and Dest that weren’t out there for the Gold Cup roster. — Hernandez