Omar Vega/Getty Images
Playing their first match of 2025, the United States Men’s National Soccer Team defeated Venezuela 3-1 in an international friendly at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on Saturday.
Philadelphia Union midfielder Jack McGlynn and Charlotte FC striker Patrick Agyemang each scored goals late in the first half to put the United States up for good in their senior national team starting debuts.
Since European clubs are not in the midst of an international break, the USMNT was without most of its top stars, including Christian Pulisic, Tyler Adams, Weston McKinnie, Timothy Weah and Matt Turner.
The squad was made up almost entirely of MLS players, and six of the 11 starters earned their first cap as a member of the senior national team Saturday.
The USA squandered a golden opportunity in the third minute of the match when Matko Miljevic was denied on a penalty kick, and there was no scoring for the first 36 minutes.
However, McGlynn broke through in the 37th minute with a long-range, left-footed blast to put the USMNT up 1-0:
Just two minutes later, Agyemang took a feed from Miljevic and confidently beat Venezuelan goalkeeper Wuilker Faríñez to extend the lead to 2-0:
In the 61st minute, Miljevic got some retribution for his earlier penalty miss by scoring in his USMNT debut as well:
Given the youth on the USMNT roster, several fans took to X to praise the performance of the up-and-coming players and the team as a whole:
Thomas 🇺🇸 @USKeeper
Fun watching the #USMNT attacking the Venezuela defense.
Mauricio Pochettino was named the USMNT manager back in September, replacing Gregg Berhalter, and he scored his fourth victory in five matches at the helm Saturday.
The 52-year-old Argentinian previously managed several high-profile clubs, including Tottenham Hotspur, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea, and he was chosen as the head coach to take Team USA to the next level.
The USMNT has seemingly played a more aggressive, attacking style during his brief tenure, and that was on full display once again Saturday, as the Americans dominated play with 66 percent of the possession and 10 shots on goal compared to Venezuela’s three.
With the United States playing an exciting brand of soccer, Pochettino received his proverbial flowers from many on social media Saturday:
Abacus @DanAbacus1
It’s taken less than 6 games for #Pochettino to demonstrate what a terrible choice #Berhalter was for @USMNT & it’s an indictment of @ussoccer to have continued with him This is the most positive the USA have looked since 1994 Unfortunately we will soon lose Poch
Since the USMNT didn’t have anything close to its best squad on the pitch against Venezuela, the result conceivably bodes well for what Pochettino can do with his top players.
The win also may have offered a glimpse into the future of the USMNT, as McGlynn, Agyemang and others perhaps put themselves on the radar for future caps.
The group that played Saturday will get one more chance to impress Wednesday when the USMNT goes to Orlando to face Costa Rica in a friendly.
After that, the USMNT’s next match will have higher stakes, as the Americans will host Panama in a CONCACAF Nations League tilt on March 20 in Los Angeles.
