USMNT fall 2-0 to Portugal in final game before World Cup roster is named
The US let Portugal score first and never quite got back into the match. Photograph: Omar Vega/USSF/Getty Images The US men’s national team met Portugal at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Tuesday evening having spent the days leading up to the match preaching about intensity . Following a 5-2 drubbing at the hands of Belgium on the weekend, players and coaches alike stressed the importance of showing well against sixth-ranked Portugal.
Instead, the US closed this window with another flat performance, undone by a talented Portuguese side that easily unlocked the US in front of a sellout crowd of 72,297. The 2-0 loss was the USMNT’s eighth consecutive defeat at the hands of a European opponent, a stretch that’s seen them outscored 22-6. Related: Mauricio Pochettino distances himself from Spurs return but backs club to avoid relegation As expected, US head coach Mauricio Pochettino made a raft of changes to the lineup that faced Belgium on Saturday.
New England Revolution keeper Matt Turner was replaced by NYC FC netminder Matt Freese, Pochettino’s preferred choice over the last year or so. In central defense, Chris Richards and Auston Trusty partnered for the first time, replacing Tim Ream and Mark McKenzie, flanked by Alex Freeman and Antonee Robinson. Sebastian Berhalter and Aidan Morris were favored over Tanner Tessmann and Johnny Cardoso in midfield.
And perhaps most interestingly, Christian Pulisic spent much of the game as a central striker. For a spell, Pochettino’s choices proved serviceable enough, but the US eventually unraveled, undone by a 37th minute strike from Sporting winger Francisco Trincão and a lovely, perfectly-placed attempt from former Atlético Madrid forward João Félix a quarter-hour into the second half. They never fully folded in the way they did against Belgium, but Tuesday evening’s performance likely did little to inspire hope in the hearts of US fans as they prepare for a World Cup on home soil in a little over two months.
Pulisic struggles up top US midfielder Christian Pulisic is usually far from the most visibly expressive player on the field, but with each of his misses on Tuesday, he grew more and more openly frustrated. Nobody could blame him. There was his sixth minute miss, a low, poorly-struck effort off an excellent ball from Malik Tillman.
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