ARLINGTON, Texas – Mauricio Pochettino smiled and shook his head in disbelief. He’s been requested about Malik Tillman fairly just a few occasions throughout this Gold Cup, and he’s working out of how to say the identical factor.
“It’s troublesome to outline him as a result of, what a participant, no?” Pochettino mentioned.
Tillman scored the opening purpose for the U.S. males’s nationwide crew in what was in the end a 2-1 win over Haiti to shut out the group stage on Sunday at AT&T Stadium. The Individuals had already clinched a spot within the knockout spherical final week after beating each Trinidad and Tobago after which Saudi Arabia. However profitable all three video games gave the squad 9 factors and put them on the high of Group D.
The U.S. will get well for per week earlier than going through Costa Rica within the quarterfinals on Sunday, June 29 in Minneapolis (7 p.m. ET on FOX).
Tillman, who has began in all three Gold Cup matches thus far, scored his third purpose of the event within the tenth minute when he headed house a right-footed cross from Brenden Aaronson.
Malik Tillman’s header provides USMNT a 1-0 lead over Haiti
“One of many scouting experiences was that the again door is open,” Aaronson mentioned. “We have now high quality with our wingers and are at all times harmful with Jack [McGlynn], Diego [Luna] after which with me at the moment, I simply noticed an overloaded again put up and I simply thought, ‘Yeah I’m going to hold it out again there.”
Tillman was essentially the most entertaining a part of the match and used his finesse to constantly put himself in threatening positions. He may have had extra targets had these different probabilities not been known as again within the second half.
First, there was an unintentional handball within the sixty fourth minute.
Moments later, Tillman collected a cross over the again line from Tyler Adams, made a 360-degree flip, and completed solely to have that purpose dominated offside.
After which within the 74th minute, Tillman introduced the ball down with distinctive management, however his shot went large left. Even when it had gone in, there might need been an argument for offside.
One minute later, Patrick Agyemang scored the game-winner to offer the USMNT its closing 2-1 scoreline. It was his fifth purpose in 9 video games.
“To be sincere, I get pissed off,” Tillman admittedly informed reporters after the sport. “I don’t know in the event you guys can see it, however I attempt to preserve it extra within me and to not present it. However yeah, I’m pissed off. Even now I’m nonetheless fairly upset. I ought to have scored not less than yet one more.”
It’s taken a while for Tillman to seek out his confidence and simply get right into a groove on the worldwide stage. Whereas he scored 16 targets in 34 appearances for PSV Eindhoven final season, he had by no means discovered the again of the web for the USMNT earlier than the Gold Cup. Now, the 23-year-old midfielder has scored three targets in three video games.
Malik Tillman wasn’t happy along with his one purpose in Sunday’s win as he had different probabilities to nab one other. (Picture by Shaun Clark/Getty Pictures)
“What a participant that’s displaying this camp his expertise and capability,” mentioned Pochettino, who lately described Tillman as probably the most gifted gamers within the nation. “The work ethic and the best way he’s actually aggressive – he recovered loads of balls.
“He’s at all times making an attempt to assist the crew press, chasing again, taking part in in a unique place. He can seem like a No. 10 in between the traces, he could be on the precise or the left facet, he can drop and play like a No. 8 or a No. 6.
“What a gifted participant. I’m so happy with him. So happy. He’s a beautiful man, and he’s began to seek out himself. The crew is significantly better when he’s concerned within the sport.”
Now, nevertheless, the stakes get increased. Whereas Saudi Arabia and Haiti have been strong opponents for a younger American squad that’s solely performed collectively for a few weeks, Costa Rica will pose a stiffer take a look at. As will any potential mixture of Mexico, Panama or Canada – groups the U.S. will doubtless need to face as a way to win the Gold Cup.
In these matchups, Tillman’s missed alternatives may price the U.S. So too may the error goalkeeper Matt Freese made when he and Tim Ream’s miscommunication led to Haiti equalizing within the 18th minute.
However the USMNT has accomplished what it is wanted to take action far by profitable its group and advancing to the Gold Cup quarterfinals when it may have spiraled after these embarrassing pre-tournament losses.
“The steps that we’ve made I believe are enormous,” Aaronson mentioned. “From two not nice outcomes with Turkiye and Switzerland, I imply, it’s robust. You get down on your self and stuff like that.
“However what I see from this group is that bounce-back mentality. You come into the event and you might let it hassle you, you might let negativity hassle you. However I believe that the largest factor with this group is we tune all the pieces out. We simply preserve going.”
United States vs. Haiti Concacaf Gold Cup Highlights | FOX Soccer
Laken Litman covers faculty soccer, faculty basketball and soccer for FOX Sports activities. She beforehand wrote for Sports activities Illustrated, USA Right now and The Indianapolis Star. She is the creator of “Sturdy Like a Lady,” printed in spring 2022 to mark the fiftieth anniversary of Title IX. Comply with her at @LakenLitman.
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