AUSTIN, Texas — The USA is transferring to the knockout rounds on the CONCACAF Gold Cup, prefer it at all times does.
But two wins in two matches have been removed from constant and nonetheless increase questions concerning the younger squad coach Mauricio Pochettino is guiding into the quarterfinals.
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The People superior out of Group D with a match nonetheless to play with Thursday night time’s 1-0 win over Saudi Arabia due to defender Chris Richards’ left-footed objective off a free kick from Sebastian Berhalter.
“We should be calm,” Pochettino mentioned. “That is the second victory in a row within the competitors. We nonetheless should be enhance. The competitors goes to be harder.”
Richards’ objective was the lone second of finesse from a U.S. assault that scored 5 objectives towards Trinidad and Tobago, after which appeared principally stagnant and stifled by Saudi Arabia on a steamy night time in Texas.
There have been a few obvious defensive lapses, as properly.
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Richards needed to monitor again to save lots of the U.S. from an early deficit when a mistake by Alex Freeman almost surrendered a objective within the first half.
The People’ two wins within the match to this point have come towards a Trinidad and Tobago workforce ranked No. 100 on the earth, and No. 58 Saudi Arabia.
They are going to finish Group D play Sunday towards No. 83 Haiti in Arlington, Texas.
Pochettino dismissed the low rating for Saudi Arabia, noting its first-round victory over eventual champion Argentina within the 2022 World Cup.
Chris Richards celebrates after scoring a objective within the U.S. males’s soccer workforce’s 1-0 win over Saudi Arabia of their CONCACAF Gold Cup match on June 19, 2025. Getty Photographs
“It wasn’t a straightforward recreation. They’re very aggressive,” Pochettino mentioned. “They’ve high quality.”
The U.S. should navigate a match that may solely get harder with a roster Pochettino stitched along with lots of the common stars and starters sitting out for private causes, accidents or taking part in within the Membership World Cup.
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Lacking the match for the U.S. are regulars Christian Pulisic, Yunus Musah, Weston McKennie, Tim Weah, Gio Reyna, Antonee Robinson, Folarin Balogun and Sergiño Dest.
Chris Richards (proper) celebrates with the followers and his teammates throughout Crew USA’s 1-0 win over Saudi Arabia. Scott Wachter-Imagn Photographs
And ahead Haji Wright didn’t swimsuit up for the match towards Saudi Arabia as a result of workforce officers mentioned he has an “difficulty” together with his left Achilles tendon. The workforce didn’t elaborate.
Richards, who scored his second profession objective for the People, mentioned he sees a roster that’s rising because it navigates the Gold Cup in its final aggressive matches earlier than the 2026 World Cup, which the U.S. will co-host with Mexico and Canada.
“We’re on to the following spherical. Greater than something, we despatched an announcement to the remainder of CONCACAF we’re not taking anybody evenly,” Richards mentioned. “The Gold Cup is rather a lot longer than something we’ve performed in to this point, however CONCACAF groups may not have as a lot high quality, however they positively have battle.”