Shortly before kick-off here in Atlanta, dozens of mini parachutes were dropped from the roof of Mercedes-Benz Stadium. They carried small gifts and they drifted down into the outstretched hands of supporters.
Then, over the next 90 minutes, Portugal provided the USMNT with another painful reminder that the very best teams don’t do handouts. Nothing comes for free – not against a European powerhouse and certainly not at the World Cup.
For the second time in four days, Mauricio Pochettino’s team went toe-to-toe with one of soccer’s most accomplished teams. And once again, they showed they can hurt them. Just as against Belgium on Saturday, however, the US ended the night with nothing to show for it. Two games, two losses, some positive signs but plenty of questions to answer, too.
After a 5-2 defeat by Belgium, goals from Francisco Trincao and substitute Joao Felix gave Portugal a 2-0 win in the final game before Pochettino announces his roster for this summer’s home World Cup on May 26. Remember, the visitors had no Cristiano Ronaldo, no Bernardo Silva and no Ruben Dias, either.
In some ways, this international break proved a useful experiment. On this evidence, the USA’s issues are not difficult to diagnose: Pochettino’s team lacks the attacking ruthlessness and defensive solidity the world’s best. Apart from that…
Once again in Atlanta, the USA failed to convert its chances before being punished far too easily at the other end. Better to learn those lessons now than in the summer, admittedly.
The USMNT was beaten by 2-0 by Portugal at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Tuesday night
Goals from Joao Felix (L) and Francisco Trincao condemned the USA to defeat in Atlanta
This was the USMNT’s final game before Mauricio Pochettino names his World Cup roster
The only problem? How does the head coach go about finding a fix in the next 72 days before the USA opens its World Cup account against Paraguay? Particularly when Christian Pulisic is among his primary concerns.
He will shoulder the burden of expectation this summer. Here, though, Pulisic was guilty of missing several big chances before being hauled off at half-time. The AC Milan star has now gone eight USA games without a goal; he hasn’t scored for club or country since December 28.
By the time he left the field, Trincao had converted a rare Portugal opening. It was brilliantly created by Bruno Fernandes. The visitors’ second goal, however, was criminal.
A Portugal corner was allowed to float all the way to Felix on the edge of the box. He had time to take a touch and fire the bouncing ball into the bottom corner.
Many of the 72,000 fans had streamed out by the end, leaving Pochettino to ponder his next move. He has given himself a huge pool of players to pick from and it is a concern that, so close to the World Cup, the Argentine still doesn’t appear to know his best team. How else to explain his persistent experimentation? Two games – against Senegal and Germany – stand between his team and judgment day.
Pochettino was at pains to find positives after this second loss in a few days, insisting his team is ‘not far away’ from beating top teams and that only ‘small details’ are deciding these games.
But the path leading towards the later rounds of the World Cup grew more treacherous for Pochettino’s team on Tuesday night – even before a ball had been kicked in Atlanta.
On the other side of the world, Turkey beat Kosovo to secure the final spot in Group D alongside America, Paraguay and Australia. Turkey is ranked No 22 in the world – only six places below the USA and more than 50 spots above Kosovo. Last summer, Vincenzo Montella’s side beat the US 2-1.
And so, all of a sudden, the co-host’s task appears rather more daunting. Even in this bloated new format, which will see all-but 16 sides reach the knockout stages.
Trincao celebrates his opening goal with Bruno Fernandes at Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Weston McKennie tussles with Samu Costa during the first half of Tuesday’s clash in Atlanta
Christian Pulisic, who led the line for the United States, missed a number of first-half chances
It doesn’t help, of course, that the USMNT has been so starved of meaningful, competitive games over recent years. That is the price of automatic qualification. That makes nights such as these especially precious.
Belgium and Portugal are two brilliant, battle-hardened sides, the caliber of team that America will need to beat to break through its glass ceiling this summer. And here on Saturday, Belgium dished out a painful lesson.
The US started that game brightly and they were gifted a few early chances by Portugal, too. Pochettino again shuffled his pack, with Pulisic and Weston McKennie spearheading the USMNT attack. Both spurned glorious openings. First, Pulisic saw a shot blocked from inside the box and then – from the resulting corner – McKennie sent a free header wide.
At the other end, Matt Freese – back in goal in place of Matt Turner – made a sharp save to deny Fernandes but the clearest chance of the opening quarter fell to Pulisic. Tim Weah’s low cross found the 27-year-old seven yards out, bang in front of goal, only for Pulisic to fail to make meaningful contact.
Shortly before halftime, Portugal made him and his team pay. Barely a minute after Pulisic had come close once more – driving a low shot narrowly wide – the USA coughed up possession and Vitinha slid the ball through for Fernandes. His backheel rolled into the path of Trincao, who beat Freese with calm, curled finish.
Perhaps it was no surprise that Pulisic’s frustrations soon boiled over. In first-half stoppage time, the forward was booked. And that proved to be his final contribution – Pulisic, McKennie and Antonee Robinson were all replaced at halftime, while Portugal made seven changes.
If all those substitutions didn’t suck the life out of this game, Felix’s second did. The US has now lost eight straight games against European teams and, by the end here, it was the thousands of Portugal fans – many wearing No 7 on their back – making all the noise.
