Mauricio Pochettino and the United States Men’s National Team wrapped up the March window on Tuesday when they hosted fifth-ranked Portugal inside Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Once again, Pochettino's side suffered defeat, losing 2-0 to Portugal.
Mauricio Pochettino rolled out a new-look starting XI that saw Matt Freese replace Matt Turner in net. Auston Trusty, Chris Richards, and Alex Freeman made up the backline while Tim Weah and Antonee Robinson played as wing-backs.
Aidan Morris and Sebastian Berhalter played as defensive midfielders while Christian Pulisic, Malik Tillman, and Weston McKennie were the attacking trio.
After a few good chances from both sides, Portugal broke the deadlock in the 37th minute when a turnover in the midfield led Portugal to beaming a ball up to Bruno Fernandes. With the U.S. pressure ensuing, Fernandes backheeld the ball into the path of Francisco Trincão, who slotted the ball far post past the reach of Freese to put Portugal ahead 1-0.
Christian Pulisic became the first American to enter the book as he saw yellow in first-half stoppage time after he lost his cool and clipped the heels of Tomás Araújo.
Pochettino went to the bench before the start of the second half, as Max Arfsten, Tanner Tessmann, and Patrick Agyemang replaced Robinson, McKennie, and Pulisic.
After a few good attempts, Portugal doubled its lead in the 59th minute when Fernandes’ corner kick found a wide-open Joao Félix atop the box. Despite an awkward bounce, Félix put his boot through the ball and sent it soaring through a sea of bodies and into the back of the net to give Portugal a 2-0 lead.
Pochettino went to the bench again in the 67th minute as Folarin Balogun and Joe Scally replaced Weah and Tillman. More changes came in the 79th minute as Brendan Aaronson, Gio Reyna, and Cristian Roldan replaced Berhalter, Morris, and Freeman. The United States’ final change came in stoppage time when Mark McKenzie replaced Trusty.
It was a disappointing window for Poch and the USMNT. With the March window behind them, Poch and the players turn their attention to the May window when Pochettino will name the players he intends to take to the World Cup during some last-minute competition during friendlies against Senegal and Germany.
