US thrash Haiti as Pochettino prepares for farewell
But there was little sign that news of Pochettino's exit had disturbed US preparations as they demolished World Cup qualifiers Haiti to deliver the biggest victory of the Argentine coach's two-year reign.
Key points
- US take 5-0 lead in Nations League quarter-final Hall, 18, scores again as Pochettino prepares for exit Pulisic goes into fourth on all-time US scoring list When Mauricio Pochettino named his US roster for the November window, few could have expected that the games would double as his brief lame-duck era.
- Christian Pulisic (10) is mobbed by team-mates after scoring during the USA's rout of Haiti in the CONCACAF Nations League (JC Ruiz) The United States thrashed Haiti 6-0 to surge towards the CONCACAF Nations League semi-finals on Saturday as Mauricio Pochettino's penultimate game in charge ended in an emphatic victory.
- Pulisic made it 3-0 from the penalty spot 10 minutes later after being brought down in the box by Haiti defender Carlens Arcus.
Saturday finally allowed Pochettino and his players to get on with the intended purpose of this window, and they took to the Concacaf Nations League quarter-finals with aplomb.
The US opened their two-leg series against Haiti with a dominant 6-0 victory in front of a considerably pro-Haitian crowd in Miami.
Additional details
- "Pochettino is an amazing manager and he's added a lot to us with the national team," goalscorer Balogun said afterwards.
- Goals from Christian Pulisic (2), Auston Trusty, Julian Hall, Weston McKennie and Folarin Balogun gave the US a commanding first leg advantage to all but settle the outcome of the quarter-final before Tuesday’s second leg in Cincinnati.
- McKennie's 68th-minute header put Pochettino's side 5-0 up and the US thought they had added a sixth soon afterwards when Balogun shrugged off Arcus to score from close range.
- The build-up to Saturday's fixture in Miami had been overshadowed by news of Pochettino's departure as US coach after agreeing to take over Manchester United.
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