The United States men's national team fell to a disappointing 2-0 defeat against South Korea on Saturday evening at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, New Jersey. The loss extended a troubling run of form for the US side, which now has just 279 days before hosting the opening game of a home World Cup.
Mauricio Pochettino, the US head coach, used the match to evaluate a largely MLS-heavy squad, but the performance offered little encouragement. South Korea, despite facing criticism at home, dominated large stretches of the game, with Son Heung-min scoring the opener in the 18th minute. The US defence, including debutant Tristan Blackmon, was repeatedly caught out by quick Korean counterattacks.
Son, playing as a striker for the Taeguk Warriors, capitalised on poor communication between US defenders Tim Ream and Blackmon to score. The second goal came from a simple give-and-go that split the US backline, with Lee Dong-gyeong finishing past goalkeeper Matt Freese. South Korea created several more chances from US errors, including a moment when Christian Pulisic and Tyler Adams both sprinted to the same spot, leaving gaps.
Pochettino acknowledged the defensive issues, saying: 'We worked this week not to give a player like Son the possibility to run. We were so passive to provide the space to score.' When asked when results would become a priority, he replied: 'When the World Cup starts,' citing his experience with Argentina's early exit in 2002 as a warning that pre-tournament form is not always decisive.
The US started brightly but faded after conceding, and the crowd of over 25,000 was heavily in favour of South Korea, reflecting the large Korean diaspora in nearby Fort Lee. Pochettino's side will hope for a more favourable atmosphere at the World Cup, but must urgently address their defensive frailties and lack of cohesion.
