Haiti 0-6 USMNT: Pochettino’s Yanks rout Les Grenadiers in Miami

What did it mean to start this game so close to home? “It’s an unbelievable experience, something I’ve been dreaming about since I was a kid, to play with these guys and represent the badge. The fact that I grew up 20 minutes from here is even better.”

On the veterans in the team: “They’ve been unbelievable. They’ve been so helpful on the pitch and off. They are so helpful helping the younger kids making the jump.”

On coming back and scoring: “It was a huge and I’m very happy to be back with the team. After the World Cup it’s been a bit of an up-and-down period for me. Feels good to get a win with the boys.”

On his goal celebration: “Just giving homage to Damian Lillard, Dame Time. I just wanted to show it’s my time, I’m baclk.”

Rough week: “It’s difficult. Pochettino is an amazing manager and he’s added a lot to us with the national team. It’s sad to see a top coach leave.”

A 6-0 win is going to be good news for the player ratings of nearly every player, no doubt.

Pretty much every player can point to a fine moment or two, though Chris Richards and Diego Kochen each had a dicey moment. The latter bailed out the former of his, while the former couldn’t help the latter’s error later in the game.

Read more here, but how about a little taste regarding brace-bagging Christian Pulisic?

Christian Pulisic (Off 81'): 8 — Welcome back. The forward won and converted a penalty, then curled home another chance. Put both of his shots on target and led the game in touches inside the opposition box. A fantastic player is back in form. Now how will he fare in the post-Pochettino era?

Adri Mehmeti is fresh into the game when he joins Malik Tillman to release Folarin Balogun into the box.

This time’s Balogun’s 13th career goal won’t be pulled off the board after the Monaco man slams a low shot home.

The rout continues in Florida.

Fresh into the game, Balogun bulls his way toward goal and keeps his cool after a Haiti handball.

He muscles his way into the six and slots past Alex Pierre.

VAR is requesting the referee take a peek at the pitchside screen. Balogun and Carlens Arcus are scrapping for possession and the former gets a piece of the latter with his arm.

This would be a super touchy call, and it is. The U.S. lead remains 5-0.

... within moments of this going 5-0, young keeper Kochen gets out of position.

A quick pass inside from Casimir is found and deposited past Richards by Lenny Joseph.

Was Casimir offside? This will be reviewed... and the goal will not stand as Kochen is spared official blushes (There are still blushes, though).

This is not good defending from Haiti off a near-post corner kick.

Tillman’s corner is toward the heart of the six, and an unmarked McKennie just has to beat the keeper to the ball.

He does, and heads home.

But wait, Haiti go back the other way....

Julian Hall exits after a very effective performance, and Sebastian Berhalter was also good in his 65 minutes.

Folarin Balogun enters at center forward, while Bryan Reynolds gets his first cap in ages. The Rennes man hadn’t worn a USMNT shirt since the semifinals of the 2023 Gold Cup.

Malik Tillman will drop into the midfield and Reynolds will patrol a flank.

And now Pulisic has passed Wynalda with a solid left-footed shot that probably could’ve been handled better by the goalkeeper.

No matter! It’s 4-0 to the U.S. and the occasion is fun regardless of Pierre’s lethargic reaction time.

Pulisic has to wait a bit to take his kick as Haiti are deploying gamesmanship to delay his attempt.

The American slams home his penalty to make it 3-0.

It’s his 34th goal, tying Eric Wynalda for fourth in USMNT history.

Next up? Jozy Altidore with 42.

MORE — USMNT record book

Julian Hall gets the ball from Weston McKennie in the box and back heels to an inquiring Christian Pulisic.

The pass causes a desperation lunge from Haiti, and Pulisic is dropped in the box for a penalty.

The AC Milan man goes to the spot in the 60th minute.

Is he onside? That’s not the only question here.

Haiti want a foul on Tillman for a foul on Casimir deep in the USMNT third.

The Yanks immediately go the other way with an incisive break, a brilliant through ball from Christian Pulisic releasing Antonee Robinson down the left for a first-time pass slotted by the teenager Hall.

Neither calls goes the way of the hosts. 2-0 to the USMNT.

The USMNT have neither decided the leg nor the tie despite firm control of the match.

Auston Trusty’s goal off a Sebastian Berhalter free kick remains the only product of 73% possession and an 8-2 advantage in shot attempts for the Yanks.

Antonee Robinson and Berhalter are both on yellow cards. Robinson also had a brief head injury scare early in the contest, which could add to the reasoning for a change.

Josue Casimir was cautioned for Haiti.

Hall is played into the box and has a very good opportunity to make it 2-0.

He nutmegs a defender and then tries to do the same to Alex Pierre with a left-footed effort from maybe 10 feet away.

The Sochaux man closes the wickets to block the chance.

Hall slides the ball over the goal line off an Alex Freeman cross, but the New York Red Bulls man was clearly offside.

Christian Pulisic set up the chance, and then sets up another almost immediately that leads to a U.S. corner.

Weston McKennie slides a through ball toward the six, and Julian Hall races onto the chance.

He’s closed down by Haiti keeper Alex Pierre of Ligue 2 side Sochaux.

The U.S. concede a corner at the other end when Chris Richards slides to block a promising attack, but Haiti forfeit their chance to take it with a pre-service foul.

Haiti have a chance to go level within two minutes of the confirmation of the U.S. opener.

Diego Kochen comes off his line and holds firm with a strong leg save on Jean-Jacques, who beat Chris Richards to get into the 18 for a 1v1 with the keeper.

Celtic center back Auston Trusty goes to the grimy places to poke home from the back post.

Sebastian Berhalter’s free kick from the right is met at the back by Trusty, who was very close to being offside.

VAR is having a long look at this one, but the goal stands!

USMNT man Antonee Robinson leaves his leg in a hard challenge to sprinting Josue Casimir, and he’ll see a yellow card.

The referee making a clear decision to put a stop to some hijinks as Robinson had been waylaid earlier by Danley Jean-Jacques.

Robinson had to leave the pitch for a minute after a possible head injury. This was his first action upon return.

The U.S. are in their red-and-white flag top from the World Cup.

Haiti are in their blue top with a red color and white and red trim on the sleeves.

The Yanks took possession off the kickoff but Les Grenadiers have taken it after a minute as the feeling-out period rolls forward in Miami.

Starting XI
A. Pierre
Arcus
K. Pierre
Nwadike
Experience
L. Pierre
Jean-Jacques
Louicius
Casimir
Isidor
Joseph

Some surprises here, for sure, as Julian Hall starts atop the attack over Folarin Balogun.

Diego Kochen gets the start in goal behind a back line of Antonee Robinson, Auston Trusty, Chris Richards, and Alex Freeman.

Tyler Adams captains from the midfield base with Sebastian Berhalter, Weston McKennie, and Malik Tillman also in the team.

Christian Pulisic is on the wing. This should be fun!

We wrote about this earlier in the week at length.

Certainly the second center back next to Chris Richards and whoever is between the posts will be in focus, but the main character is simple.

“The USMNT’s best player — considered by some to already live in rarefied program air with names like Dempsey and Donovan — was hot and cold at the World Cup.... and injured twice. While Malik Tillman, Folarin Balogun, and Alex Freeman were asserting themselves on the home soil World Cup stage, Pulisic was overall average.

“Now he’s been put in a new place by a manager who will be leaving the team, given a clear place underneath the very top leaders of the group like new captain Tyler Adams and defender Chris Richards. Heck, maybe even behind the son of his former coach.

“How will he look? How will he act? How will others look around him? How will he deal with the pressure of all of those eyes? We want the answers to be motivated, team-first, embraced by teammates, and lively.”

Well, last month plus a week.

Here’s how that youth-driven 4-0-0 run went over four friendlies.

vs Peru — Won 4-1 — Sept. 26 — Recap, highlights | Player ratings
vs Chile — Won 4-2 — Sept. 29 — Recap, highlights
vs Mexico — Won 3-0 — Oct. 3 — Recap, highlights | Player ratings
vs Canada — Won 1-0 — Oct.6 — Recap, highlights

There are some intriguing questions regarding Mauricio Pochettino’s lineup choices for this afternoon’s game as the departing coach eyeballs the youth who impressed last month as well as returning stars Christian Pulisic, Folarin Balogun, and Weston McKennie.

It would be stunning if Balogun did not start and surprising if Pulisic didn’t get a starting role as well. McKennie less so, but he’s doing well at Juventus.

There are few questions about the back line, while Tyler Adams and Malik Tillman should start. Goalkeeper, a third midfielder, and one winger are seemingly the most debatable spots presuming Pulisic starts on the other wing.

Matt Freese could get another chance in goal but Diego Kochen and Brian Schwake are plenty interesting if Pochettino wants to make a change from the World Cup starter.

It’s Sebastian Berhalter or Weston McKennie in the spot next to Adams, and perhaps Pochettino opts for vibes and sticks with Berhalter. He could also sneak McKennie into the three players underneath Balogun by moving Tillman to the left, but we’ll guess that young Cavan Sullivan gets another chance to impress in that space.

— Matt Freese —

— Alex Freeman — Chris Richards — Auston Trusty — Antonee Robinson —

— Tyler Adams — Sebastian Berhalter —

— Christian Pulisic — Malik Tillman — Cavan Sullivan —

— Folarin Balogun —