4 Takeaways From The U.S. Males’s Group’s 2-1 Win Over Paraguay

[ad_1] CHESTER, Penn. - If Gio Reyna desires to get to the 2026 World Cup, then he took a step in the best route.

Making his first begin beneath U.S. males's nationwide crew coach Mauricio Pochettino and simply his second for membership or nation since March, the 23-year-old attacking midfielder made essentially the most of his night time towards Paraguay on a cold night time at Subaru Park.

It was an encouraging signal for a USMNT squad taking part in in its second-to-last match of the yr.

Listed here are my takeaways:

1. Gio Reyna Helped His World Cup Case? (Picture by Mark Smith/ISI Pictures/USSF/Getty Photos)

With simply 146 minutes performed for German membership Borussia Mönchengladbach this season, the 23-year-old attacking midfielder was a shock inclusion on Pochettino’s roster this month. Nonetheless, no one questions the expertise of a participant who was rightly thought-about among the many most promising children within the world sport 5 years in the past. However Reyna has been dogged by accidents since then, derailing his improvement.

Nonetheless, with attacking regulars similar to forwards Christian Pulisic, Malik Tillman and Tim Weah left behind with their European golf equipment this month having simply recovered from accidents, Pochettino turned to Reyna for a inventive spark regardless of his lack of taking part in time abroad. And the previous Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain supervisor was rewarded nearly instantly, when the rangy playmaker nodded residence wingback Max Arfsten’s service from the doorstep to provide the hosts the early benefit. It was Arfsten’s team-leading fifth help of this calendar yr.

It’s uncertain that the aim alone will vault Reyna onto Pochettino’s remaining 26-man roster for subsequent summer season's roster. He’ll must play extra — far more — within the Bundesliga within the 4 months earlier than the USMNT subsequent convenes in late March. But it surely definitely doesn’t harm.

2. One other Preventable Purpose (Picture by Ira L. Black/USSF/Getty Photos)

The U.S. gave up two regarding objectives final month, once they tied Ecuador and got here from behind to high Australia. They have been the kind of strikes that get groups knocked out of World Cups early. The identical factor occurred once more on Saturday.

As soon as once more, there was loads of blame to go round.

Reyna’s lack of defensive strain — by no means his sturdy swimsuit anyway — gifted Paraguay an extended move over all the U.S. back-line, permitting ahead Miguel Almiron to select Arce within the field with one contact. The three USMNT defenders – Joe Scally, Miles Robinson and Tim Ream – have been all sluggish to react.

It was method too simple. And whereas it didn’t value the People this time, these types of errors will certainly be punished ruthlessly subsequent summer season, regardless of the opponents.

We’ll see if the U.S. can earn a clear sheet towards an much more highly effective foe in its subsequent match. (Extra on that in a minute.)

3. An Essential Win, Nonetheless (Picture by Ira L. Black/USSF/Getty Photos)

Given what number of regulars are lacking this month, this was a formidable victory. Together with the aforementioned playmaking trio (Pulisic, Tillman and Weah), the U.S. have been lacking midfield stalwart Tyler Adams, center-back Chris Richards and right-back Antonee "Jedi" Robinson.

Paraguay's response initially snuffed out the great vibes from Reyna's aim, however striker Folarin Balogun's continued effective kind supplied a spark. Together with his second-half aim, Balogun put the hosts forward for good with lower than 20 minutes of normal time remaining. It was the third straight begin during which the Monaco man discovered the web.

It is why this end result was the most recent signal that issues are slowly however certainly shifting in the best route as 2026 attracts nearer. Saturday’s triumph provides the U.S. its first successful streak because the Gold Cup over the summer season. Add within the September win over Japan, and the People are actually unbeaten in 4 with three victories and one draw.

4 ½. What's Subsequent? (Picture by John Dorton/ISI Pictures/USSF/Getty Photos)

The USMNT gained’t have a lot time to organize for its 2025 finale, what with simply two days of relaxation — as an alternative of the same old three — earlier than they tackle Uruguay on Tuesday at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. At No. 15 in FIFA’s most up-to-date males’s rating, La Celeste sits one spot above the Sixteenth-ranked People.

Regardless of a brand new technology of gamers — longtime mainstays similar to striker duo Luis Suárez and Edinson Cavani each retired from their nationwide crew in 2024 — Uruguay nonetheless boasts a number of legit elite abilities, even with Actual Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde not included in supervisor Marcelo Bielsa’s squad this month. Chief amongst them is Barcelona defender Ronald Araújo, however there’s additionally midfielders Rodrigo Bentancur (Tottehnam) and Manuel Ugarte (Manchester United).

Tuesday’s contest may even mark a reunion between Pochettino and Bielsa, who coached a younger Pochettino at Newell's Previous Boys, one in every of Argentina's most historic golf equipment.

"It will be good to see Marcelo," Pochettino advised reporters forward of Saturday’s sport. "You understand very effectively my relationship and my admiration and my love [for Bielsa]. "They certified [to the World Cup], and so they play nice. I do know what means to play for him, and I do know what means to play towards him. It will be powerful."

Doug McIntyre is a soccer reporter for FOX Sports activities who has coated United States males's and ladies's nationwide groups at FIFA World Cups on 5 continents. Comply with him @ByDougMcIntyre.

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