Son Heung-min Haunts Pochettino as South Korea Dominates USMNT 2-0

In a highly anticipated friendly, South Korea delivered a resounding 2-0 defeat to the U.S. Men’s National Team (USMNT) at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, NJ. The match marked the USMNT’s return to action since their Concacaf Gold Cup final loss to Mexico in 2025, and unfortunately for head coach Mauricio Pochettino, the struggles continued.

The star of the show was none other than LAFC forward Son Heung-min, who opened the scoring in the 19th minute and then assisted Lee Dong-gyeong’s 43rd-minute goal. Son’s performance was particularly poignant as he faced his former Tottenham Hotspur manager, Pochettino, adding an extra layer of narrative to the encounter.

Despite being a home match for the USMNT, the sold-out stadium was predominantly filled with fervent South Korean supporters, creating a challenging atmosphere for the American squad. This loss further darkens Pochettino’s record with the USMNT, which now stands at 10-0-7, and marks their seventh defeat in their last eight matches against top-30 ranked opponents.

As the USMNT prepares to face Japan on Tuesday, here are the key takeaways from Sports Illustrated:

Backline Gambles Fail to Pay Off

Throughout the Gold Cup, Pochettino had seemingly settled on a consistent center-back pairing of Crystal Palace’s Chris Richards and Charlotte FC’s Tim Ream. However, against South Korea, he opted for further experimentation, reintroducing the recently injured Sergiño Dest at right-back and handing Vancouver Whitecaps center-back Tristan Blackmon his first start.

Richards was relegated to a second-half substitute role, with Blackmon partnering Ream despite being an unlikely candidate for the final World Cup roster. While Ream delivered a solid performance, Blackmon and Dest visibly struggled, overwhelmed by the relentless South Korean attacks in the first half. Dest’s issues were particularly evident in transition moments.

Blackmon, making his USMNT debut, appeared to buckle under the pressure, struggling with pace, failing to execute line-breaking passes, and unable to contain Son or other opposing attackers. Both of South Korea’s goals stemmed from defensive lapses that could have been avoided with better chemistry and quality against elite forwards.

With the World Cup rapidly approaching, Pochettino faces a critical task in establishing a consistent and reliable backline, especially in the central defensive roles, which are crucial for setting the team’s defensive foundation.

Striker Questions Linger

Hopes were high for Josh Sargent, who boasts five goals in four Championship matches for Norwich City this season, to finally solidify his position as a top striker for the USMNT. However, those aspirations dimmed as he once again failed to create chances against South Korea, demonstrating an inability to translate his impressive club form to the international stage.

The match did, however, see the return of Monaco’s Folarin Balogun, who proved far more threatening in the latter stages after coming on midway through the second half. In 62 minutes, Sargent managed a mere 17 touches, no shots, and no chances created. In contrast, Balogun registered 19 touches, four shots, and one created chance in just 28 minutes.

Balogun also showcased excellent link-up play with Club América forward Alejandro Zendejas, who operated in a second-striker role slightly behind him. While Balogun’s club form may be inconsistent, his performances for the USMNT have consistently been stronger, and his display against South Korea reinforced his claim as the primary striking option. The pressing question now is whether this performance was enough to earn Pochettino’s trust for a starting spot against Japan.

Pressing Concerns Highlight Tactical Disconnect

As the USMNT plays more matches, the player pool becomes clearer. Beyond the individual personnel issues, Pochettino’s side struggled to press with purpose against South Korea, allowing their opponents to effortlessly navigate through the midfield.

As observed in the match, Diego Luna often found himself as the sole American player applying pressure as the Koreans built from the back. Once bypassed, he was effectively removed from the play, with no secondary wave of pressure to win the ball. This allowed South Korea to exploit space and launch methodical attacks with ease.

For the USMNT to achieve success, it is not only imperative for Pochettino to identify his optimal lineup but also to ensure every player is tactically aligned, pressing cohesively and advancing with a unified purpose. For more in-depth analysis and the latest USMNT news, stay tuned to Sports Illustrated.

Published 14 Minutes Ago by Ben Steiner

Ben Steiner is an American-Canadian journalist with extensive experience covering North American national teams, MLS, CPL, NWSL, NSL, and Liga MX for prominent outlets including MLSsoccer.com, CBC Sports, and OneSoccer.