Tuesday night was a showcase for Brooklyn Raines, who was one of two to play all 90 minutes in the U.S. Men's National Team's 4-2 win over Chile.
The 21-year-old has a knack for popping up in the right spots. He made two critical interventions in the first half. The first happened inside the six-yard box.
The second was an aggressive step to win possession.
The New England Revolution midfielder looked more comfortable in the second half, a trend that extended throughout the USMNT roster.
Raines made a tempo pass that led to a goal.
And showed a keen ability to make timely interventions.
Raines finished the night with 66 touches and a 92% pass completion rate (44/48). While most of his passes were safe — the norm for his position — an underrated skill he possesses is using forward momentum to jump-start the attack.
This next play is reminiscent of the goal he scored against France at the U-20 World Cup.
Raines' last major contribution came when he expertly tracked down a Chile attacker without fouling him. It was a simple moment that required great awareness.
Raines' efforts can sometimes go under the radar, but I've come to notice the important, small actions he does while watching him play for the Revolution. He covers ground, picks up second balls, and finds the right passes.
For him to look as comfortable as he did in his first senior international start is a big step in his promising career. Keep in mind that Raines is eligible for the 2028 Olympics.
