Christian Pulisic, USMNT Earn Draw vs. New Zealand as Fans Ready for Pochettino Era

Timothy Rapp@@TRappaRTFeatured Columnist IVSeptember 11, 2024

John Dorton/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images

The United States men’s national team looked fairly lifeless through the first hour or so of Tuesday’s friendly against New Zealand, a reminder that freshly-appointed head coach Mauricio Pochettino might indeed have his work cut out for him.

And then Christian Pulisic happened.

The USMNT’s star winger, brought on as a substitute in the 57th minute, broke a scoreless deadlock in the 69th minute, providing his country with a spark in what was ultimately a 1-1 draw.

B/R Football @brfootballChristian Pulisic comes off the bench and gives USA the lead 12 minutes later 💥

Watch live on TNT and Max 📺 pic.twitter.com/CpukyOxlt6

The good feelings didn’t last long.

Just 20 minutes a series of defensive blunders squandered the USMNT’s lead, with the look of anguish on Matt Turner’s face reflected by American supporters tuning in:

B/R Football @brfootballUSMNT concede an unfortunate late equalizer to New Zealand 🥴 pic.twitter.com/SwOlkFrESK

And so fans and pundits alike were of two minds.

The first was that Pulisic was yet again deserving of high marks:

USMNT 1ˢᵗ 🇺🇸🥇 @USMNTFirstPochettino seeing Pulisic sub on and immediately score for the USMNT 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/aRlqtwWQjm

Jeff Carlisle @JeffreyCarlisleGoal #usmnt! Pulisic finishes off a flowing team move with a sharp finish. Didn’t think the U.S. had it in them at this stage but well done.

Daniel J Anderson @Daniel_TO21Pochettino is gonna turn Pulisic into a superstar.

Grievous @Grievous30Look at Pulisic absolutely CARRYING this nation right now! The SECOND he subbed in this team found life!

The second, however, was that the USMNT provided a fairly listless performance—albeit in a meaningless friendly with an interim manager at the helm—and that the Pochettino era can’t begin soon enough:

herculez gomez @herculezgMauricio Pochettino can’t come soon enough.

I don’t know what’s more pathetic: the turnout in the stands (both games) or the #USMNT heart.

Mikey Varas looks like he’s in a Southwest commercial.

Jeff Carlisle @JeffreyCarlisleLet’s try this again… FT: #usmnt 1-1 New Zealand. U.S. goes 1-4-2 in the last three months, failing to beat yet another team that it should have handled easily. Let the Poch era begin.

Maximiliano Bretos @MaxBretosSportsPulisic looks pissed.
Good, we need to all follow his lead.#USMNT

Paul Carr @PaulCarr#USMNT is winless in four straight home games for the first time since a seven-game stretch in 2010-11.

mike b @BlumemaLots of possession but very uninspiring performance tonight #USMNT. pulisic the only one willing to take anyone on… I don’t think Pepsi has taken a positive touch the entire 2nd half… never even touched the ball facing goal… no runs in the 18 just keep away for 90 min

Mr. Bradley @thatguyjordan18The only bright side for Mauricio Pochettino is that he has until October 12th to install his system for the USMNT. The patience will be worth the wait 👏

But this window is especially bad to the point that it was hard to stomach 😅

Elmer Josué Membreño @ejm1031It’s incredible how mediocre the US looked. Pochettino has a lot of work to do.

cheese 🛡️ @cream_my_cheesePochettino really does have his work cut out for him doesn’t he

A few points of context to consider.

The first is that the USMNT did appear to score a goal in the first half but had it disallowed, a surprise given there was no VAR in the match.

Another is that there has been a general sense of uncertainty around this team while the Pochettino hiring—which was rumored for weeks—was being finalized. Playing a meaningless friendly under a manager who is simply a placeholder isn’t the easiest type of match to get up for.

Those aren’t excuses, of course—the United States has far too much talent to draw with New Zealand. There is plenty to clean up in the Pochettino era after Gregg Berhalter’s tenure ended with enduring mediocrity.