USA-SOUTH KOREA EXPRESS:
Sept. 6 in Harrison, New Jersey
USA 0 South Korea 2. Goals: Son Heung-Min 18, Lee Dong-Gyeong 43.
Att.: 26,500.

Fans at the Sports Illustrated Stadium in New Jersey — once known as Red Bull Arena — found plenty to cheer about on Saturday. Because the vast majority of them supported South Korea, whose dynamic play led it to a 2-0 win over the USA.

Worse than the result is that — one year since the hiring of Mauricio Pochettino — the USA isn’t delivering reasons to create excitement about its possibilities at the 2026 World Cup, which kicks off in nine months. Its most lively play came with a few futile attacks while South Korea rode out its comfortable lead.

South Korea made it difficult for the USA to build out of the back. (Photo: Mike Woitalla)

USA Player Ratings

(1=low; 5=middle; 10=high.)

GOALKEEPER

Perhaps better positioning could have enabled him to stop the first goal (0-1). For sure, Matt Freese mistimed his lunge on the second goal (0-2). His 90th-minute diving save off a header had a low degree of difficulty. Freese’s most astute moment was coming far out of his penalty area to clear a 52nd-minute through ball. On distribution: Under pressure, Freese whacked the ball out of bounds or booted 50-50 balls the Koreans won.

Player (Club) caps/goals (age)

4
Matt Freese (New York City FC) 8/0 (26)


DEFENDERS

The one-on-one skills of right back Sergiño Dest, making his first U.S. appearance since March 2024, created the most hopeful U.S. movement on South Korea’s end in the first half. Dest raced back to tackle Lee Dong-Gyeong cleanly in the 11th minute in the U.S. penalty area.

Tristan Blackmon‘s debut did not go well. The central defender lost track of Son Heung-Min on the first goal and failed to intervene on the second goal, as did his central partner, Tim Ream. Blackmon also lost the ball during buildups, and gave up a corner kick when he had other options.

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Soccer America Executive Editor Mike Woitalla has written freelance articles about soccer for more than 30 media outlets in nine nations. The winner of eight United Soccer Coaches Writing Contest awards,...