Latest news with #MattFreese
Washington Post
14 hours ago
- Sport
- Washington Post
Competition should stiffen for unproven Americans in CONCACAF Gold Cup quarterfinals
ARLINGTON, Texas — Matt Freese's gaffe that cost the U.S. the lead in a CONCACAF Gold Cup group play finale drew a reaction from coach Mauricio Pochettino that the Americans can apply to the rest of their last competitive test before next year's World Cup. 'Move on,' Pochettino said of the goalkeeper's botched clearing attempt before Patrick Agyemang's tiebreaking 75th-minute goal in a 2-1 victory over Haiti on Sunday night.
The Guardian
16 hours ago
- Sport
- The Guardian
US men overcome goalkeeping gaffe to top Haiti 2-1 and win Gold Cup group
Patrick Agyemang scored a tiebreaking goal in the 75th minute, and the United States overcame Matt Freese's goalkeeping gaffe to beat Haiti 2-1 on Sunday night and win their Concacaf Gold Cup group with a 3-0 record. Malik Tillman put the US ahead in the 10th minute with his third goal of the tournament but Freese, who has displaced Matt Turner, highlighted the Americans' goalkeeping issues a year ahead of the World Cup with a botched clearing attempt that led to Louicius Don Deedson's 19th-minute goal. After Tillman came close three times in the second half, Agyemang scored after taking a long pass from John Tolkin. Agyemang touched the ball past goalkeeper Johny Placide and slotted into an open net for his fifth international goal and second of the tournament. The US, who opened with victories over Trinidad and Tobago and invited guest Saudi Arabia, won their group for the 17th time in 18 Gold Cups. The Americans have 43 wins, one loss and five draws in group play, going 3-0 for the seventh time. Using largely a B team in the tournament, the Americans already had clinched a spot in the quarter-finals against Mexico or Costa Rica next weekend. Haiti finished third on goal difference ahead of Trinidad and Tobago, which was eliminated when it wasted a lead in a 1-1 draw as the Saudis. The Gold Cup is the last competitive test for the 16th-ranked Americans ahead of the World Cup. As co-hosts, the US, Mexico and Canada get automatic berths. In front of a sparse crowd at the 80,000-seat home of the Dallas Cowboys, one of next year's World Cup venues, Tillman scored his third goal of the tournament when he headed the ball inside the far post from Brenden Aaronson's cross in the 10th minute. Sign up to Soccer with Jonathan Wilson Jonathan Wilson brings expert analysis on the biggest stories from European soccer after newsletter promotion Freese blundered when took a back pass from Tim Ream and tried to play the ball to Tolkin with left foot. The ball went straight to Don Deedson, who took a touch and scored inside the far post. American midfielder Tyler Adams started after being slowed by turf toe, among four changes by coach Mauricio Pochettino, and got a yellow card for a late sliding tackle on Duckens Nazon about 25 seconds in.
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Competition should stiffen for unproven Americans in CONCACAF Gold Cup quarterfinals
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Matt Freese's gaffe that cost the U.S. the lead in a CONCACAF Gold Cup group play finale drew a reaction from coach Mauricio Pochettino that Americans can apply to the rest of their last competitive test before next year's World Cup. 'Move on,' Pochettino said of the goalkeeper's botched clearing attempt before Patrick Agyemang's tiebreaking 75th-minute goal in a 2-1 victory over Haiti on Sunday night. Advertisement 'Remember, the most important action is the next one,' Pochettino said. 'If you think in the last one like that, you're going to do another mistake. This type of accident happened, and it will happen it the future.' The immediate future for the U.S. after a 3-0 run through Group D is a quarterfinal against Costa Rica or Mexico next weekend. Either way, the opponent will be ranked higher than any of th group opponents. The U.S. ended a four-match losing streak by beating No. 100 Trinidad and Tobago 5-0 in its Gold Cup opener, followed by a 1-0 victory over 58th-ranked Saudi Arabia. Haiti is No. 83. 'The confidence level is super high,' said Brenden Aaronson, who assisted on Malik Tillman's goal that opened the scoring in the 10th minute. 'I mean, nine points from three games. We've had two shutouts and another win today against a good Haiti team. I think we're really flying at the moment. Now we have a week to prepare, which we haven't had for any team.' Advertisement Still, the play has been uneven from what amounts to a B team of mostly young and unproven players and A team backups. Several of the usual stars and starters sat out for personal reasons, injuries or playing in the Club World Cup. Missing the tournament for the U.S. are regulars Christian Pulisic, Yunus Musah, Weston McKennie, Tim Weah, Gio Reyna, Antonee Robinson, Folarin Balogun and Sergiño Dest. 'We were not a clinic with the chances that we had,' Pochettino said of the Haiti win. 'I think we should have scored more.' Freese blundered when took a back pass from Tim Ream and tried to play the ball to John Tolkin with his left foot. The ball went straight to Louicius Don Deedson, who took a touch and scored inside the far post for a 1-1 tie in the 19th minute. Advertisement The unsightly moment did nothing to dissuade Pochettino, who suggested his decision to go with Freese over Matt Turner will continue in this Gold Cup. The coach thought Freese followed orders by moving on. 'Continues to build me up,' Freese said of Pochettino. 'That's something I really appreciate. Very grateful for the opportunity. I just want to help the team win as much as I can.' The U.S. won its group for the 17th time in 18 Gold Cups. The Americans have 43 wins, one loss and five draws in group play, going 3-0 for the seventh time. Still, a four-match losing streak punctuated by a Switzerland's 4-0 blowout in the final Gold Cup tune-up is a not-very-distant memory. 'To be the best, you've got to beat the best,' Freese said. 'I think always continuing to push ourselves and play against harder teams and show what we can do and learn from it and continue to grow as a group ahead of a big summer next summer is an opportunity we're all looking forward to. We want to continue to move on.' ___ AP soccer:
Associated Press
17 hours ago
- Sport
- Associated Press
Competition should stiffen for unproven Americans in CONCACAF Gold Cup quarterfinals
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Matt Freese's gaffe that cost the U.S. the lead in a CONCACAF Gold Cup group play finale drew a reaction from coach Mauricio Pochettino that Americans can apply to the rest of their last competitive test before next year's World Cup. 'Move on,' Pochettino said of the goalkeeper's botched clearing attempt before Patrick Agyemang's tiebreaking 75th-minute goal in a 2-1 victory over Haiti on Sunday night. 'Remember, the most important action is the next one,' Pochettino said. 'If you think in the last one like that, you're going to do another mistake. This type of accident happened, and it will happen it the future.' The immediate future for the U.S. after a 3-0 run through Group D is a quarterfinal against Costa Rica or Mexico next weekend. Either way, the opponent will be ranked higher than any of th group opponents. The U.S. ended a four-match losing streak by beating No. 100 Trinidad and Tobago 5-0 in its Gold Cup opener, followed by a 1-0 victory over 58th-ranked Saudi Arabia. Haiti is No. 83. 'The confidence level is super high,' said Brenden Aaronson, who assisted on Malik Tillman's goal that opened the scoring in the 10th minute. 'I mean, nine points from three games. We've had two shutouts and another win today against a good Haiti team. I think we're really flying at the moment. Now we have a week to prepare, which we haven't had for any team.' Still, the play has been uneven from what amounts to a B team of mostly young and unproven players and A team backups. Several of the usual stars and starters sat out for personal reasons, injuries or playing in the Club World Cup. Missing the tournament for the U.S. are regulars Christian Pulisic, Yunus Musah, Weston McKennie, Tim Weah, Gio Reyna, Antonee Robinson, Folarin Balogun and Sergiño Dest. 'We were not a clinic with the chances that we had,' Pochettino said of the Haiti win. 'I think we should have scored more.' Freese blundered when took a back pass from Tim Ream and tried to play the ball to John Tolkin with his left foot. The ball went straight to Louicius Don Deedson, who took a touch and scored inside the far post for a 1-1 tie in the 19th minute. The unsightly moment did nothing to dissuade Pochettino, who suggested his decision to go with Freese over Matt Turner will continue in this Gold Cup. The coach thought Freese followed orders by moving on. 'Continues to build me up,' Freese said of Pochettino. 'That's something I really appreciate. Very grateful for the opportunity. I just want to help the team win as much as I can.' The U.S. won its group for the 17th time in 18 Gold Cups. The Americans have 43 wins, one loss and five draws in group play, going 3-0 for the seventh time. Still, a four-match losing streak punctuated by a Switzerland's 4-0 blowout in the final Gold Cup tune-up is a not-very-distant memory. 'To be the best, you've got to beat the best,' Freese said. 'I think always continuing to push ourselves and play against harder teams and show what we can do and learn from it and continue to grow as a group ahead of a big summer next summer is an opportunity we're all looking forward to. We want to continue to move on.' ___ AP soccer:
Washington Post
19 hours ago
- Sport
- Washington Post
Tillman and Agyemang goals overcome Freese gaffe, US beats Haiti 2-1 to win CONCACAF Gold Cup group
ARLINGTON, Texas — Patrick Agyemang scored a tiebreaking goal in the 75th minute, and the United States overcame Matt Freese's goalkeeping gaffe to beat Haiti 2-1 on Sunday night and win its CONCACAF Gold Cup group with a 3-0 record. Malik Tillman put the U.S. ahead in the 10th minute with his third goal of the tournament but Freese, who has displaced Matt Turner, highlighted the Americans' goalkeeping issues a year ahead of the World Cup with a botched clearing attempt that led to Louicius Don Deedson's 19th-minute goal. After Tillman came close three times in the second half, Agyemang scored after taking a long pass from John Tolkin. Agyemang touched the ball past goalkeeper Johny Placide and slotted into an open net for his fifth international goal and second of the tournament. The U.S., which opened with victories over Trinidad and Tobago and invited guest Saudi Arabia , won its group for the 17th time in 18 Gold Cups. The Americans have 43 wins, one loss and five draws in group play, going 3-0 for the seventh time. Using largely a B team in the tournament, the Americans already had clinched a spot in the quarterfinals against Mexico or Costa Rica next weekend. Haiti finished third on goal difference ahead of Trinidad and Tobago, which was eliminated when it wasted a lead in a 1-1 draw as the Saudis. The Gold Cup is the last competitive test for the 16th-ranked Americans ahead of the World Cup. As co-hosts, the U.S., Mexico and Canada get automatic berths. In front of a sparse crowd at the 80,000-seat home of the Dallas Cowboys, one of next year's World Cup venues, Tillman scored his third goal of the tournament when he headed the ball inside the far post from Brenden Aaronson's cross in the 10th minute. Freese blundered when took a back pass from Tim Ream and tried to play the ball to Tolkin with left foot. The ball went straight to Don Deedson, who took a touch and scored inside the far post. American midfielder Tyler Adams started after being slowed by turf toe, among four changes by coach Mauricio Pochettino, and got a yellow card for a late sliding tackle on Duckens Nazon about 25 seconds in. ___ AP soccer:
