Musah and Pepi fire USA past Panama as Mauricio Pochettino wins in debut
Mauricio Pochettino won his debut as US coach, conceding a 49th-minute goal from Yunus Musah after an assist from AC Milan teammate Christian Pulisic and an injury-time strike from Ricardo Pepi for a 2-0 win over Panama on Saturday night.
The match in front of a crowd of almost 20,239 people at Q2 Stadium was the first of two friendlies for the US in a four-day period, including a match against Mexico on Tuesday in Guadalajara. The Americans ended a four-game winless streak and their first four-game winless streak since a seven-game defeat in 2010-11.
Pochettino, a 52-year-old Argentinian who has managed Tottenham, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain, was hired last month to replace Gregg Berhalter, who was sacked in July after being eliminated in the first round of the Copa América. Pochettino was signed for the 2026 World Cup, which the US will co-host, and is tasked with coaching a team that has not reached the World Cup quarter-finals since 2002.
“Building something little by little. The target is 2026,” Pochettino said. “It’s just the first step.”
Musah scored his first goal in 42 international appearances.
Antonee Robinson worked on a flank around defender Michael Murillo and centered towards Pulisic, who exchanged passes with Brenden Aaronson and delivered a one-time cross. Musah beat defender César Blackman to send the ball past Orlando Mosquera with a right-foot volley from four yards for his first goal in 42 international appearances.
Pulisic played a match with his eighth American coach, a record for an American player. The US was missing injured regulars Sergiño Dest, Tyler Adams, Gio Reyna, Tim Weah and Folarin Balogun.
Three substitutions in the second half combined to score the second goal in the fourth minute of stoppage time. Malik Tillman brought down a kick from goalkeeper Matt Turner and passed to Haji Wright, who crossed. Texas native Pepi slotted the ball through Mosquera’s legs for his 11th goal in 31 appearances – his fourth in three international matches in Austin.
Turner. who played all four matches at the 2022 World Cup. made a double save in the 52nd minute, hitting Puma Rodríguez’s shot with his left hand and then diving back forward to get his body in front of Yoel Bárcenas’ attempt off the rebound.
Panama’s José Fajardo shot wide in the 87th minute.
Tim Ream captained the Americans a week after his 37th birthday, becoming the oldest American outfielder since Preki Radosavljević in 2001. Forward Josh Sargent made his first start since the 2022 group stage final against Iran.
Mexican referee Katia Garcia would be the first woman to referee a U.S. men’s national team match.
Goalkeeper Zack Steffen, who has not played for the US since the last World Cup qualifier in March 2022, did not dress due to what the US Football Association said was a minor injury. Defender Marlon Fossey, who has not trained on the field in recent days, also did not dress.