Laken Litman
Faculty Soccer & Soccer Analyst
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 the way to say the identical factor.
“It’s tough to outline him as a result of, what a participant, no?” Pochettino mentioned.
Tillman scored the opening aim for the U.S. males’s nationwide staff in what was finally a 2-1 win over Haiti to shut out the group stage on Sunday at AT&T Stadium. The People 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 better for every week earlier than dealing with 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 to this point, scored his third aim of the match within the tenth minute when he headed dwelling a right-footed cross from Brenden Aaronson.
Malik Tillman’s header provides USMNT a 1-0 lead over Haiti
“One of many scouting stories was that the again door is open,” Aaronson mentioned. “We’ve got high quality with our wingers and are all the time harmful with Jack [McGlynn], Diego [Luna] after which with me at this time, I simply noticed an overloaded again submit 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 persistently put himself in threatening positions. He might have had extra targets had these different probabilities not been referred to as again within the second half.
First, there was an unintentional handball within the sixty fourth minute.
Moments later, Tillman collected a move over the again line from Tyler Adams, made a 360-degree flip, and completed solely to have that aim dominated offside.
After which within the 74th minute, Tillman introduced the ball down with distinctive management, however his shot went broad left. Even when it had gone in, there may need been an argument for offside.
One minute later, Patrick Agyemang scored the game-winner to present the USMNT its last 2-1 scoreline. It was his fifth aim in 9 video games.
“To be sincere, I get annoyed,” Tillman admittedly instructed reporters after the sport. “I don’t know in the event you guys can see it, however I attempt to maintain it extra inside me and to not present it. However yeah, I’m annoyed. Even now I’m nonetheless fairly upset. I ought to have scored at the least another.”
It’s taken a while for Tillman to search 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 glad along with his one aim in Sunday’s win as he had different probabilities to nab one other. (Photograph by Shaun Clark/Getty Photos)
“What a participant that’s displaying this camp his expertise and capability,” mentioned Pochettino, who lately described Tillman as one of the crucial proficient gamers within the nation. “The work ethic and the way in which he’s actually aggressive – he recovered a variety of balls.
“He’s all the time making an attempt to assist the staff press, chasing again, taking part in in a distinct place. He can appear as if a No. 10 in between the traces, he could be on the best or the left facet, he can drop and play like a No. 8 or a No. 6.
“What a proficient participant. I’m so happy with him. So happy. He’s a beautiful man, and he’s began to search out himself. The staff is significantly better when he’s concerned within the recreation.”
Now, nonetheless, the stakes get greater. Whereas Saudi Arabia and Haiti had 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 seemingly should face as a way to win the Gold Cup.
In these matchups, Tillman’s missed alternatives might price the U.S. So too might 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 performed what it is wanted to take action far by profitable its group and advancing to the Gold Cup quarterfinals when it might have spiraled after these embarrassing pre-tournament losses.
“The steps that we’ve made I feel are large,” Aaronson mentioned. “From two not nice outcomes with Turkiye and Switzerland, I imply, it’s powerful. 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 match and you possibly can let it trouble you, you possibly can let negativity trouble you. However I feel that the most important factor with this group is we tune every little thing out. We simply maintain 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 In the present day and The Indianapolis Star. She is the writer of “Robust Like a Lady,” revealed in spring 2022 to mark the fiftieth anniversary of Title IX. Comply with her at @LakenLitman.
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