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.
00:21And Maurizio Pochettino making six changes from the side that lost here against Belgium on Saturday.
00:26Including the goal where Matt Fries 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.
00:45Well, I don't think that has anything to do with it.
00:48Matt Fries 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
01:12on the biggest stage of all.
01:15But for this team as a whole, there is a need for redemption after Saturday.
01:19It's time to rest here 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.
01:33There the PSG midfielder.
01:36High tempo start to this game.
01:41As it's played out wide to the far side by Nassio.
01:44But now it's a chance for Weston McKennie.
01:48Driven in there by Tillman.
01:58Maurizio Pochettino looking for a reaction and looking for intensity today.
02:04Berhalter across to the far side to take this corner.
02:10Austin trusty forward from the back.
02:12It's McKennie who put a head to it.
02:16Weston McKennie with the goal that gave the US the lead at the weekend against Belgium.
02:20He scored on a set piece last game.
02:22One touch.
02:23I mean, how does he get that wide open?
02:25And Freeman's wide open behind him.
02:26Against Turquie who beat Kosovo by one goal to nil.
02:31Up it goes towards Kulisic.
02:34He's looking for the ball forward in the midfield.
02:36He'll get this one back as he pushes it towards the edge of the box.
02:38And Bruno's...
02:39To the strike.
02:40Wonderful save by Matt Freese.
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 who will chase on to the pass from Tillman.
03:07Kulisic is in the middle.
03:08McKennie there as well.
03:09The cross comes in.
03:10Oh, it went past Kulisic and McKennie as well.
03:13And picked up by Robinson on the edge of the box.
03:16And here's Sebastian Berhalter.
03:17He'll have a go from distance.
03:19Oh, Sarra with a save.
03:23Sebastian Berhalter lets it fly.
03:2522 minutes in.
03:27Still nil-nil.
03:29Kulisic, he's at midfield when this ball gets played forward.
03:34Tremendous speed to go and get up with that.
03:35I 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.
03:41No, he just misses it.
03:43You really expect him to at least get a touch on that.
03:47And here's the look at Sa.
03:48He sees that all the ways over there.
03:51But Kulisic had a wonderful chance.
03:53Just couldn't make contact on it.
03:55Kulis Perez 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.
04:04It 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 in.
04:13He was caught late there.
04:15And a free kick has been given.
04:16And it's the right decision because McKennie,
04:20plattered by Shao Cancelo.
04:26And the yellow, probably the correct decision there.
04:29Right when he gets this off, you can see, I mean, it's just not only that first leg, but the
04:36trail.
04:37Where?
04:40This is 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 Kulisic.
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, the strength.
05:08And then right here, outside of the foot, gets it to Kulisic.
05:12Pulls it slightly.
05:13It's not hard to be sure of it to get that alarm 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 because he hasn't had the minutes he would have wanted since making a 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 for his new team.
05:37This one through the middle towards Fernandez.
05:39He's in around the back.
05:40Bruno Fernandez here with a little backheel.
05:42It's a chance for Portugal.
05:44And he's dispatched with precision for the first goal.
05:54Francisco Trincao with the finish.
06:02Right here, just a turnover.
06:04McKinney's trying to get it back to Freeman.
06:06And Morris, you can see, pushes right.
06:08That opens up the passing lane.
06:10But how is everyone dropping back right there?
06:13And maybe it's trusty.
06:14Someone's got to just read.
06:15There's no way Fernandez is getting that shot off.
06:18Richards has that angle cut down.
06:20The backheel looks like it'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.
06:29Immediately wondering.
06:30There are several players that could make that play.
06:32No one reading that little backheel.
06:37Trincao's third international.
06:39A little flick on there as McKinney got a touch to it.
06:41It drops for Berhalter.
06:42And wide for Robinson down the left side.
06:55Bruno Fernandez getting back to break up play there.
07:01Betinia turns out towards Cancelo down the left.
07:04Closed down by Weah.
07:09Benicio's ball forward.
07:11Drops here towards Anthony Robinson.
07:12And the Fulham man carrying this one towards Pulisic.
07:15Robinson has a go.
07:18When Melissa was talking about Weah and the coaches screaming at him,
07:21and that's exactly what they want right there.
07:24In transition, when he moves into that defensive face, starting 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're just a strength, the angle.
07:37Always looking to see if the attacking player can make the mistake first.
07:42It's really good at the Pulisic here.
07:44It's Pulisic up against Araujo.
07:47Christian Pulisic, what can he create here?
07:51And a free kick given, and a yellow card coming for Christian Pulisic.
07:57Now Bruno Fernandez straight towards the referee from Germany, Sven Jablonski.
08:02Unhappy with that from Christian Pulisic.
08:05Really well done here.
08:06What a turn there from Tillman.
08:08And lovely feet initially from Pulisic.
08:13You can see as he tries to cut it back.
08:15He's got the double team there right away.
08:17Just a little kick out.
08:19Silly at that point, right before half, to get a yellow card.
08:22I get it.
08:23He's frustrated.
08:24It's been tough.
08:24Portugal has really been all over.
08:26Bruno Mendes.
08:30Bruno Mendes into the left-back role,
08:32having come on at half-time here.
08:34And it's given away as Aidan Morris looks to get that one back.
08:38Tillman can try and take advantage here.
08:41Morris.
08:41Morris turns.
08:43Couldn't get the power behind the shot.
08:51Uber Neves.
08:53Now Bruno Fernandes looking long and Conceição trying to get into it around.
08:58Max Austin here who recovered well.
09:00What a ball though from Bruno Fernandes.
09:02They had a first touch.
09:03He's gorgeous.
09:06Conceição backwards here and Silva pushing this one forward.
09:09It's a chance now as Portugal step inside.
09:13The shot goes wide.
09:18Quick break from Portugal.
09:26Lovely ball right here.
09:28Just passing away and open for a second.
09:32There's a few players that have a chance at it.
09:34You can see it starting wide from the second he goes to curl it.
09:38Just staring up at the sky.
09:40It's just two points.
09:42Injustice that I said it was three.
09:43I can't be Sean Brown.
09:44That's a bad.
09:48More Portugal changes coming.
09:52Alinho getting set to come in.
09:54That's good checking back there.
09:55From Freeman to put it out of play.
09:58In the race with Mendes.
10:00Really well done.
10:01Freeman's been very, very good today.
10:06Some people.
10:08Give him to the back from Cal in the 37th minute.
10:14This is played in towards the edge of the box.
10:16Well, Felix strikes.
10:17Portugal have a spectacular second.
10:38You can see freeze right there.
10:41There's just absolutely no way you have time to take a touch.
10:45Not only take a touch, but a touch that bounces up to your chest at this level.
10:52It's just nowhere near good enough.
10:55After a really good performance, Pochettino said it.
10:58It's a great strike, of course.
11:00Lucky to go off the post.
11:02He's got the skill to hit that.
11:04It's bending towards the goals.
11:05He comes across it with his shoelaces.
11:07It's just the U.S.
11:10There's no way he can take two touches.
11:12It looked like he was shaping himself to hit it first time.
11:15But that touch, even if it drops down to his feet nicely,
11:18someone's got to be there.
11:19But pops up and just completely inexcusable
11:22for no U.S. player to be there to smother him.
11:27Drau Felix with his twig.
11:28Again for Portugal.
11:30Paulinho in space down the right side.
11:33Drau Felix racing down the middle.
11:36He'll go backwards, though.
11:42Portis ball out wide to that left side.
11:44Bruno Fernandes with that wonderful cross into the middle.
11:46Cleared by Richards.
11:47The shot, though, from distance.
11:49Matt Fries has to make the save.
11:51As the shot came in for Ruben Neves.
12:01This thing's traveling.
12:04There's a really good...
12:05...into the game here.
12:07Picked up here by Arfston.
12:10Arfston over the top sends Ajimang chasing.
12:16Patrick Ajimang's done really well here.
12:18Pulled back for the shot.
12:20Balogun couldn't get it on target.
12:21But what good work that was from Ajimang against Antonio Silva.
12:28Watch this skill.
12:31Just a little step over.
12:32Drags it with him.
12:34And as that comes back to Balogun.
12:35Second in the group.
12:37And they'll head north of the border up to Toronto
12:41for the runner-up in the group
12:42that includes England, Croatia, Ghana and Panama.
12:48Balogun out wide to the right.
12:50It goes for Brendan Aronson.
12:52Running at Vega here.
12:53Aronson plays it in.
12:54Second chance for Aronson.
12:56Who can't keep it down.
13:04End of that one.
13:06Monse Sao down the right side.
13:11It's been a live wire down this right touchline
13:14since coming on the Juventus man.
13:16Boston McKennie's team-mate.
13:18Mendes will chase forward
13:20and cross in from the left side
13:22almost causing Friese some problems.
13:28See what he's trying.
13:30Just gets a tremendous amount of pace on this
13:32and he just wants that in around waist height.
13:47Reina.
13:50Back to Roldan who's under pressure.
13:52Monse Sao able to pick it up
13:53but the referee gets a free kick here.
14:09Really positive stats throughout this game.
14:12I really like the pairing between him
14:13and Chris Richards
14:14but in terms of duels
14:16he led the team.
14:17Recoveries.
14:18He had eight or nine clearances.
14:20I think he had a solid performance.
14:22Back to Fricasse.
14:23Oh!
14:24Did Friese get a touch?
14:25Yes he did.
14:26It's a corner on the far side.
14:31A seventh corner of the game for Portugal.
14:34Right here.
14:34I think this is a great save.
14:37Yeah.
14:37That's going right in that far corner.
14:45The referee with a check of the watch
14:48blows the whistle
14:49to bring this one to a close.
14:51Two defeats in this international window
14:53for the United States.
14:56Mauricio Pochettino
14:58sees his side pull to Belgium
15:00and now Portugal.
15:03And before we see this team again
15:05he will name his squad for the World Cup.
15:09Next time we call a game
15:10it's going to be the team going to the World Cup.
15:12There's a few players that weren't here
15:14you'd expect to be on that roster
15:16or maybe in the starting lineup
15:17but the ones on the bubble
15:19did they do enough
15:21to change Pochettino's mind
15:23and ensure that the dream
15:24of playing on the World Cup
15:25exists for them.
15:28Charles Felix scored the second goal
15:29for Portugal
15:30after the first from Trincao
15:32not long before halftime.
15:34Christian Pulisic denied
15:35on a couple of occasions
15:37as the United States went close.
15:39but they fall here in Atlanta
15:41by two goals to nil.
15:43U.S. soccer on TNT
15:44is presented by Bank of America.
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