After two defeats, the US national team lifted spirits at the end of their September training camp against Japan. Two strikers nominated for the first time by Mauricio Pochettino scored the goals.
The USA came under criticism nine months before the World Cup on home soil following defeats to Mexico in the Gold Cup final (2-1) and a deserved 2-0 loss in a friendly against South Korea. Mauricio Pochettino’s side had lost six of their previous eleven games. But in the second friendly of the September training camp, a 2-0 win over Japan lifted the mood.
Zendejas’ opening goal was well worth seeing. He volleyed left-back Arfsten’s cross into the net. The 27-year-old, who was nominated for a training camp for the first time since November, celebrated a successful return.
The same can be said of the second goalscorer, Balogun. The AS Monaco player, who is based in France, took advantage of Pulisic’s through ball to seal the final score. After a long period of suffering – an ankle injury – he scored his first goal under Pochettino. “We’re building something big here. He’s obviously a top coach, and it takes time, and he’s tried to convey to us that we need to be patient,” said Balogun.
Twice as many goals as in Columbus were scored around two hours later in Nashville, where Mexico played South Korea in a friendly – Gladbach’s Castrop, among others, celebrated his debut in the starting line-up. The Taeguk Warriors turned the game around with Son’s rocket under the crossbar and Oh, who almost ended up in Stuttgart in the summer, with a well-considered finish. But the Asians were unable to hold on to their lead, as Gimenez curled the ball beautifully into the left corner in the fourth minute of stoppage time to make it 2-2.
The Milan striker thus prevented his country’s first defeat after eight unbeaten games – El Tri last lost to Switzerland in their preparations for the Gold Cup.
Unlike its co-hosts, third World Cup co-host Canada traveled to Europe for its friendly matches. Following Friday’s 3-0 win in Romania, the team led by former Leipzig coach Jesse Marsch followed up with a 1-0 win in Swansea against Wales on Tuesday evening. The North Americans were the more dangerous team from the start and scored the goal of the day shortly before half-time: center back Cornelius shot a free kick from around 25 meters in a half-right position into the right corner.
