Pochettino Discusses Reyna’s Return to USMNT
Mauricio Pochettino shared insights on Gio Reyna’s reintroduction to the United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) during the recent friendlies against Paraguay and Uruguay.
In a thrilling match on Saturday at Subaru Park in Chester, Pennsylvania, Reyna, who last started a game in July 2024, made a significant impact by scoring a goal and providing an assist as the USMNT triumphed over Paraguay 2-1.
The match kicked off with Reyna’s impressive header finding the net in the fourth minute, giving the U.S. an early lead. However, Paraguay equalized just six minutes later through a well-placed header from Alex Arce.
The first half saw the U.S. dominate possession and create chances, yet they entered the break locked in a 1-1 draw.
In the second half, the USMNT intensified their attacking approach. The substitutions of Diego Luna and Alex Freeman indicated Pochettino’s desire for a winning goal. In the 71st minute, Luna’s pressure forced a turnover, setting up Folarin Balogun, who passed the ball back to Reyna to score, making it 2-1.
As the match drew to a close, the USMNT continued to press for another goal, nearly succeeding amidst some tense moments, but ultimately sealed the game with a 2-1 victory.
Looking ahead, Pochettino’s squad will face Uruguay in another friendly match on November 18 as they continue their World Cup preparations.
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Manager Rating
Mauricio Pochettino, 8 – Pochettino’s strategic choices, including the starting lineup that featured Reyna, paid off. His focus on team dynamics over individual performances has led to several lineup changes, earning him praise despite some noticeable midfield vulnerabilities.
Player Ratings (0-10; 10 = best, 5 = average)
GK Matt Freese, 6 – Had minimal opportunities to intervene, with only three shots on target, and could not stop Arce’s header.
DF Joe Scally, 7 – Made several effective interventions and was granted room to advance, contributing positively to the backline.
DF Tim Ream, 7 – While occasionally caught lacking pace, Ream performed well defensively and completed several significant forward passes.
DF Miles Robinson, 5 – Failed to track his mark leading to Paraguay’s goal and received a yellow card for an unnecessary foul, though he did make crucial clearances.
MF Max Arfsten, 8 – With a growing sense of confidence and an assist, Arfsten may be proving himself as a reliable option over Robinson.
MF Tanner Tessmann, 7 – While some areas needed tightening, Tessmann worked hard throughout the match.
MF Cristian Roldan, 6 – Involved in offensive plays but needs to assert more control in the midfield to secure a starting role.
MF Sergiño Dest, 8 – Active in recovering the ball and creating offensive opportunities, Dest showed improved defensive contributions.
AM Gio Reyna, 9 – A stellar comeback game featuring a goal and an assist, Reyna lived up to expectations following an extended absence.
AM Brenden Aaronson, 7 – Started slowly but gained momentum in the second half with effective connections in attack.
FW Folarin Balogun, 8 – Although largely quiet, Balogun’s opportunism in the second half led to the decisive goal.
Substitutes
AM Diego Luna, 7 – Came close to an assist and was pivotal in creating the turnover that led to the winning goal.
MF Alex Freeman, 6 – Limited involvement in a short period but remains second choice behind Dest.
AM Timothy Tillman, N/A – Offered a few accurate passes during his brief appearance.
FW Ricardo Pepi, N/A – Missed a close-range chance that was expected to be a goal.
MF Aidan Morris, N/A – Contributed a couple of clearances and a successful dribble.
MF Sebastian Berhalter, N/A – Involved minimally in his late-game appearance.
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