COLUMBUS, Ohio — The U.S. men’s national team defeated Japan 2-0 on Tuesday night to close out their September window.
Here are three thoughts featuring plenty of front-the-ground color after a much-needed win for Mauricio Pochettino and his team:
Fans can exhale (for now)
After disappointment on Saturday against South Korea, Tuesday’s friendly against a Japanese side teeming with quality loomed as a potential disaster for Pochettino as pessimism continued to pile onto the program from the outside.
When the lineups were revealed, though, it quickly became obvious that the U.S. dodged Japan’s firepower. Most of that firepower was left on the bench, with all 11 starters from their 0-0 draw with Mexico replaced for the clash with the United States. Even though a matchup against an entirely rotated Japanese squad wasn’t the test many anticipated, it was certainly a better showing from the USMNT than their last time out. After the 2-0 victory, there were positive individual performances worth highlighting.
In Folarin Balogun’s first start for the U.S. since last summer’s Copa America, the striker displayed plenty of the proactive movement and physicality that featured off the bench against South Korea.
“He gives sort of an out, a lot of the times whether it’s coming into pockets and laying the ball off. Or it’s little runs in behind that he just relieves the team when we’re under pressure,” Christian Pulisic said postgame. “Also when I turn, I feel like I look and he’s making short runs across the back line.”
