GLENDALE, Ariz. — United States men’s national team coach Mauricio Pochettino said that the number of players performing at a high level is “a fantastic problem to have” after teenagers Cavan Sullivan and Julian Hall propelled the USMNT to 3-0 win over rivals Mexico on Saturday.
The U.S. endured a difficult first half, and scored completely against the run of play in the 28th minute when Hall converted from close range after Mexico keeper Raúl Rangel spilled Gio Reyna’s low cross right in front of goal.
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The USMNT began to make more headway in the second half, and doubled its lead in the 62nd minute when Sullivan intercepted a pass from Rangel, and chipped the ball into the net from 35 yards out. The match lost its edge when Mexico’s Mateo Chávez was red carded in the 67th minute following a scrap with Sebastian Berhalter.
Malik Tillman finished off the scoring in the 84th minute, latching onto another wayward Mexico pass to firing into the net.
Hall, 18, is just the third USMNT player to score in his first three national team appearances, while 17-year-old Sullivan became the youngest scorer in USMNT history.
“I think it’s a fantastic problem for us,” Pochettino said about the performances of his team’s young players. “I think we will take the right decision in the right moment, but I think it’s a very good problem to see.
“Now it’s not a moment at all, but yes, we appreciate that situation and of course hope that we will be in that situation that young players perform in the way that they deserve to be with us.”
Pochettino also pronounced himself pleased with the way his side weathered Mexico’s early pressure.
“I think that this, overall, was a great opportunity to discover ourself, to see ourselves in a difficult game with a very good team. Again, Mexico is a great team,” Pochettino said.
“Yes, I think two different maybe halves. The first half I think Mexico started really well. They forced us to play back. We never connected. We were losing all the duels. And then we start to grow after 15, 20 minutes. And I think it was a good lesson the first half because it was the sense of work all together, suffer together even when you are not playing well in the way that you plan to play.”
But Pochettino couldn’t help but admire the performance of Sullivan, who impressed with his work on both sides the ball.
“I think he’s a talented player with enormous quality, but with a very good balance, in possession and out of possession,” Pochettino said about Sullivan. “He’s a fighter, he’s a warrior. It’s difficult to find this type of player with a tremendous quality.
“And then I think Cavan showed in possession with the ball on the field [and] when he need to be chasing people and recover the ball. That is my impression after maybe three weeks together. And that is unbelievable, to have a player like this. I think it’s a fantastic news for USA. Hope that continues in that way.”
Pochettino was careful to laud Sullivan’s young teammates as well, who have largely impressed during this window.
“It’s a big moment because we need to be right with them,” Pochettino said about the win, and the path forward. “We need to protect them. We need to support them. Our responsibility now is that this group of talented players grow in the right direction.”
