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00:04U.S. Soccer on TNT is presented by Bank of America from Mercedes-Benz Stadium in downtown Atlanta.
00:12It's the final match before Maurizio Pochettino names his World Cup squad.
00:17The United States taking on Portugal.
00:20And Maurizio Pochettino making six changes from the side that lost here against Belgium on Saturday.
00:26Including the goal where Matt Freese gets the chance to start once again tonight.
00:32And at this point, just before the World Cup squad is named, Kyle Martino, he is the presumptive number one,
00:38isn't he?
00:38He is. Yeah, he is.
00:39And I'm not hypercritical on Matt Turner.
00:43The scoreline would say the goalkeeper didn't perform.
00:46Well, I don't think that has anything to do with it.
00:48Matt Freese is the number one.
00:50If this was the first game of the World Cup, he'd be the starter.
00:53And so, obviously, a real good test for him.
00:57And Pochettino obviously has to make a roster decision.
01:00But he's got some time to make the starting 11 decision, that's for sure.
01:03The World Cup countdown continues right here in Atlanta.
01:07And for some of the players on this pitch tonight, one last chance to make a case for a place
01:13on the biggest stage of all.
01:15But for this team as a whole, there is a need for redemption after Saturday's last year against Belgium.
01:21We are underway in downtown Atlanta as Portugal are the opposition.
01:27Portugal coming into this one having tied 0-0 with Mexico at Estadio Azteca.
01:33They're the PSG midfielder.
01:37High-tempo start to this game.
01:41As it's played out wide to the far side by Ignacio, but now it's a chance for Weston McKenney.
01:48Driven in there by Tillman.
01:58Maurizio Pochettino looking for a reaction and looking for intensity today.
02:02And here it is.
02:04Berhalter across to the far side to take this corner.
02:10Austin trusty forward from the back.
02:12It's McKenney who pulled ahead to it.
02:16Weston McKenney with the goal that gave the U.S. the lead at the weekend against Belgium.
02:21He scored on a set piece last game with one touch.
02:23I mean, how does he get that wide open?
02:25And Freeman's wide open behind him.
02:26Against Turkey, who beat Kosovo by one goal to nil.
02:31Up it goes towards Kulisic.
02:34Continues for the ball forward in the midfield.
02:36He'll get this one back as he pushes it towards the edge of the box.
02:39And Bruno can get to the strike.
02:40Wonderful save by Matt Frese.
02:42A big moment for the keeper.
02:47An absolute top-shelf strike and world-class save.
02:51That was absolutely flying with you.
02:54If you know anybody with tickets, let me know.
02:57We saw Peebay the other night here.
02:59Carlos Vadorama.
03:00Let's see if maybe he can hook us up.
03:02What a player he was.
03:03A space down the right side here for Weyer,
03:05who will chase on to the pass from Tillman.
03:07Kulisic is in the middle.
03:08McKenney there as well.
03:09The cross comes in.
03:10Oh, it went past Kulisic and McKenney as well.
03:13And picked up by Robinson on the edge of the box.
03:16And here's Sebastian Berhalter.
03:18He'll have a go from distance.
03:19Oh, Sarra with a save.
03:23Sebastian Berhalter lets it fly.
03:2522 minutes in, still nil-nil.
03:29Kulisic just, he's at midfield when this ball gets played forward.
03:34Tremendous speed to go and get up with that.
03:36I don't see a deflection on it.
03:37You wonder if Christian's expecting the ball to get deflected.
03:40This will be another look at it.
03:41Now he just misses it.
03:43You really expect him to at least get a touch on that.
03:48And here's the look at Sá.
03:49He sees that all the way.
03:50He's over there.
03:51But Kulisic had a wonderful chance.
03:53Just couldn't make contact on it.
03:55Pérez on his feet as well.
03:57Maurizio Pochettino's trusted assistant.
04:01Yeah, that all starts with Tillman.
04:03He's been excellent this game.
04:05It just, you saw it several times now.
04:07He's moving even when he's not the first line of pressure.
04:12McKennie clips that one and he was caught late there.
04:15And a free kick has been given.
04:17And it's the right decision because McKennie
04:20flattered by Shao Cancelo.
04:26And the yellow, probably the correct decision there.
04:29Right when he gets this off,
04:32you can see, I mean, it's just not only
04:34that first leg, but the trail.
04:37Where?
04:40It's just Freeman.
04:42Gallo goes to close down on the far side.
04:44Freeman turns really well.
04:46Excellent play from Freeman.
04:48Driven in by Pérez.
04:55He wasn't too far away.
04:57I love when Freeman gets ahead of speed going forward.
05:01Ahead of steam, where he's just committed to it.
05:05And just watch the little skill, little shift,
05:07the strength, and then right here,
05:09outside of the foot gets it to Christian Pulisic.
05:12Pulls it slightly.
05:14Saw had to be sure of it to get that arm extended.
05:17But you can see the ball just slightly spinning away.
05:19It starts inside that.
05:20It hits it well.
05:22It's a big night for Freeman
05:24because he hasn't had the minutes
05:25he would have wanted since making the move
05:27from Orlando to Villarreal in Spain.
05:30He's been in their squad nine games so far.
05:33But has only played 38 minutes
05:35for his new team.
05:37This one through the middle towards Fernandes.
05:39He's in around the back.
05:40Bruno Fernandes here with a little back heel.
05:42It's a chance for Portugal.
05:44And he's dispatched with precision
05:47for the first goal.
05:55Francisco Trincao
05:57with the finish.
06:02Right here, just a turnover
06:03as McKinney's trying to get it back to Freeman.
06:07And Morris, you can see, pushes right
06:08and that opens up the passing lane.
06:10But how's everyone dropping back right there?
06:13And maybe it's trusty.
06:14Someone's got to just read.
06:15There's no way Fernandes is getting that shot off.
06:18Richards has that angle cut down.
06:20The back heel looks like
06:21it's the only thing that can come
06:23but take nothing away from a wonderful finish.
06:27Freeze sees it late.
06:28He's incredulous immediately wondering
06:30there were several players
06:32that could make that play.
06:33No one reading that little back heel.
06:37Trincao's third international.
06:39A little flick on there
06:39as McKinney got a touch to it.
06:41It drops for Berhalter.
06:42And wide for Robinson down the left side.
06:56And it's getting back to break-up play there.
07:01Bettenia turns out towards Cancelo down the left.
07:04Closed down by Weah.
07:09Benasio's ball forward.
07:11Drops here towards Anthony Robinson
07:12and the Fulham man carrying this one towards Pulisic.
07:15Robinson has a go.
07:18What Melissa was talking about
07:20and the coach is screaming at him
07:21and that's exactly what they want right there.
07:24In transition,
07:25when you move into that defensive phase,
07:26starting high,
07:27I mean, the U.S. has forced a lot of turnovers
07:29and gotten into these good positions.
07:32Pulisic wants that defeat.
07:34Robinson hits it.
07:35We should strengthen the angle.
07:37Always looking to see
07:38if the attacking player
07:38can make the mistake first.
07:42It's really good for Pulisic here.
07:45Pulisic up against Arauzio.
07:47Christian Pulisic,
07:48what can he create here?
07:51And a free kick given
07:53and a yellow card
07:54coming for Christian Pulisic.
07:57And Bruno Fernandes
07:59straight towards the referee
08:00from Germany,
08:01Sven Jablonski.
08:03Unhappy with that
08:04from Christian Pulisic.
08:05Really well done here.
08:06What a turn there
08:07from Tillman
08:08and lovely feet
08:09initially from Pulisic.
08:13He tries to cut it back.
08:15He's got the double team there
08:16right away.
08:17Just a little kick out.
08:19Silly at that point
08:20right before half
08:21to get a yellow card.
08:22I get it.
08:23He's frustrated.
08:24It's been tough.
08:24Portugal is really,
08:25a bit all the way.
08:26Bruno Mendes.
08:30Bruno Mendes
08:31into the left-back role
08:32having come on
08:33at half-time here.
08:35And it's given away
08:36as Aidan Morris
08:36looks to get that one back.
08:38Tillman can
08:38try and take advantage here.
08:41Morris.
08:41Morris turns.
08:43Couldn't get the power
08:43behind the shot.
08:51Uba Neves.
08:53Now Bruno Fernandes
08:54looking long
08:55and Concei Sao
08:56trying to get into it
08:57around Max Arsten
08:58here who recovered well.
09:00What a ball though
09:01from Bruno Fernandes.
09:02He had a first touch.
09:04He's gorgeous.
09:06Concei Sao backwards here
09:08and Silva pushing this one forward.
09:09It's a chance now
09:10as Portugal step inside.
09:13the shot goes wide.
09:14The shot goes wide.
09:18Quick break from Portugal.
09:26Lovely ball right here.
09:27Just
09:29possibly an open
09:30for a second.
09:32There's a few players
09:33that have a chance at it.
09:34You can see it starting wide
09:35from the second
09:36he goes to curl it.
09:38Just staring up at the sky.
09:40Just two points.
09:42Injustice that I said
09:43it was three.
09:44I can't be Sean Brown
09:44that's a bad.
09:48More Portugal changes
09:49coming.
09:52Alinho getting set to come in.
09:54That's good checking back there
09:55from Freeman
09:56to put it out of play
09:58in the race with Mendes.
10:00Really well done.
10:01Freeman's been
10:04very, very good today.
10:06You know, some people
10:07given to the back
10:09from Cal
10:09in the 37th minute.
10:14This is played in
10:15towards the edge
10:15of the box.
10:16Well, Felix Schroes!
10:17Portugal
10:18have a spectacular second!
10:38You can see
10:39freeze right there.
10:41There's just
10:42absolutely no way
10:43you have time
10:44to take a touch.
10:45Not only take a touch,
10:46a touch that bounces up
10:47to your chest
10:50at this level.
10:52It's just nowhere
10:53near good enough.
10:55After a really good performance,
10:57Pochettino said it.
10:58It's a great strike,
10:59of course.
11:00Lucky to go off
11:01the post,
11:02but he's got the skill
11:03to hit that.
11:04He's bending
11:04towards the goal
11:05as he comes across
11:06it with his shoelaces.
11:07It's just
11:07the U.S.
11:10There's no way
11:11he can take two touches.
11:12It looked like
11:13he was shaping himself
11:13to hit it first time.
11:15But that touch,
11:16even if it drops down
11:17to his feet nicely,
11:18someone's got to be there.
11:19But pops up
11:20and just completely
11:21inexcusable
11:22for no U.S. player
11:24to be there
11:24to smother him.
11:27Draft Felix
11:28with his twin
11:28for Portugal.
11:30Paulinho in space
11:31down the right side.
11:33Draft Felix
11:34racing down the middle.
11:36They'll go backwards though.
11:42Portis ball out wide
11:43to that left side.
11:44Bruno Fernandes
11:44with that wonderful
11:45cross into the middle
11:46cleared by Richards.
11:47The shot though
11:48from distance.
11:49Matt Fries
11:49has to make the save
11:50as the shot
11:51came in
11:52from Ruben Neves.
12:01This thing's traveling.
12:04There's a really good
12:05into the game here.
12:07Picked up here
12:07by Arfston.
12:10Arfston over the top
12:11sends Adjimang chasing.
12:16Patrick Adjimang
12:17has done really well
12:17here.
12:18Pulled back
12:18for the shot.
12:20Balogun couldn't
12:20get it on target
12:21but what good work
12:22that was
12:22from Adjimang
12:24against Antonio Silva.
12:28Watch this skill.
12:31Just a little step over
12:32drags it with him.
12:34As that comes back
12:35to Balogun.
12:36Second in the group
12:37and they'll head
12:39north of the border
12:40up to Toronto
12:41for the runner-up
12:42in the group
12:42that includes
12:44England, Croatia,
12:45Ghana and Panama.
12:49Balogun
12:49out wide to the right
12:50it goes for Brendan
12:51Aronson.
12:52Running at Vega here.
12:53Aronson plays it in.
12:55Second chance for Aronson
12:56who can't keep it down.
13:04End of that one.
13:07Jose Sauer
13:07down the right side.
13:11It's been a live wire
13:12down this right
13:13touchline since
13:14coming on the Juventus
13:15man.
13:16Boston McKennie's
13:16teammate.
13:18Mendez will chase
13:19forward
13:20and cross in
13:21from the left side
13:22almost causing
13:23Freese some problems.
13:29See what he's trying
13:30just gets a tremendous
13:31amount of pace on this
13:32and he just wants
13:33that in around
13:34waist height.
13:47Reina.
13:50Back for Roldan
13:51who's under pressure.
13:52Konsei Sauer able to
13:53pick it up
13:54but the referee
13:54gives the free kick here.
14:09really positive stats
14:11throughout this game.
14:12I really like the pairing
14:13between him and Chris
14:14Richards but in terms of
14:16duels he led the team
14:17recoveries.
14:18He had eight or nine
14:19clearances.
14:20I think he had a solid
14:21performance.
14:22Back through for Konsei
14:23Sauer!
14:24Did Freese get a touch?
14:25Yes he did!
14:27It's a corner on the
14:27far side.
14:31A seventh quarter of the
14:32game for Portugal.
14:34Right here I think this
14:35is a great save.
14:37Yeah.
14:38That's going right in that
14:39far corner.
14:45Referee with a check of the
14:46watch.
14:48Blows the whistle to bring
14:49this one to a close.
14:51Two defeats in this
14:52international window for
14:54the United States.
14:56Mauricio Pochettino sees
14:59his side pull to Belgium
15:00and now Portugal.
15:03And before we see this
15:04team again he will name
15:05his squad for the World
15:07Cup.
15:09Next time we call a game
15:10it's going to be the team
15:11going to the World Cup.
15:13There's a few players that
15:14weren't here you'd expect
15:15to be on that roster or
15:16maybe in the starting
15:17lineup but the ones on the
15:19bubble did they do enough
15:21to change Pochettino's
15:23mind and ensure that the
15:24dream of playing on the
15:25World Cup exists for them.
15:28Charles Felix scored the
15:29second goal for Portugal
15:30after the first from
15:31Trincao not long before
15:33halftime.
15:34Christian Pulisic denied
15:35on a couple of occasions
15:37as the United States went
15:39close but they fall here
15:41in Atlanta by two goals
15:42to nil.
15:43U.S. soccer on TNT is
15:45presented by Bank of
15:46America.
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