A decisive first leg
The U.S. men's national team delivered a one-sided 6-0 victory over Haiti on Saturday in the opening leg of the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal, giving Mauricio Pochettino a convincing result in what was described as his penultimate match in charge. The United States scored six times away from home and controlled the contest well enough to turn next Tuesday's second leg into a likely farewell occasion for the coach.
Pochettino is scheduled to take over at Manchester United on Nov. 18, bringing a short international tenure toward its conclusion. Before that move, however, the U.S. has one more Nations League match to play. The return meeting with Haiti is set for Tuesday, with the American team carrying the benefit of a six-goal first-leg margin.
McKennie makes an immediate impact
Weston McKennie was one of the clearest positives for the United States. Playing in his return to the national team, the midfielder received an 8 out of 10 rating and scored while appearing energetic and confident throughout his time on the field. He was substituted in the 81st minute after helping the Americans establish their commanding advantage.
Malik Tillman also played a central role in the attacking performance. Tillman supplied two assists and created three chances before leaving in the 86th minute, earning a 7.5 rating. His production added another layer to an offense that repeatedly found ways to threaten Haiti and helped the United States build a lead that was never seriously challenged in the final assessment of the match.
Christian Pulisic was among the players highlighted in the evaluation of the American performance, reinforcing the significance of a lineup that included established national-team figures and players seeking larger roles. The source assessment also identified contributions from Antonee Robinson and Alex Freeman, who each recorded an assist. Robinson created two chances as well, while Freeman was praised for his work on the right side.
Strong performances across the lineup
The result was not built solely on the attack. Tyler Adams received a 7.5 rating after winning all of his duels and directing the team's long-range distribution. Auston Trusty earned the same mark after scoring in his first U.S. appearance since his father's death, making his goal one of the day's most meaningful moments. Trusty was also described as strengthening his case for a place alongside Chris Richards.
| Player | Reported contribution | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Weston McKennie | Goal in return to the team | 8 |
| Malik Tillman | Two assists, three chances created | 7.5 |
| Tyler Adams | Won all duels and directed distribution | 7.5 |
| Auston Trusty | Scored in first appearance since father's death | 7.5 |
| Antonee Robinson | Assist and two chances created | 6.5 |
Questions remain despite the scoreline
The shutout and six-goal margin provided an emphatic result, but the individual assessment noted areas for attention. Goalkeeper Diego Kochen made a strong save in the first half, yet a second-half judgment error could have allowed Haiti to score had an offside call not intervened. Chris Richards was effective with the ball but made a mistake after moving wide that gave Haiti a one-on-one opportunity, which Kochen denied.
Sebastian Berhalter earned a 6.5 rating and continued to offer quality set-piece service, although his distribution was described as uneven at times. The United States also received a solid showing from Alex Freeman, while Antonee Robinson combined his assist with incisive attacking work. Together, those performances gave Pochettino a broad group of contributors rather than a victory dependent on one player.
The immediate consequence is clear: the United States will enter Tuesday's second leg with a substantial advantage and the opportunity to complete the quarterfinal against Haiti. The larger storyline is the transition ahead. Pochettino's impending move to Manchester United means the next match is positioned as the close of his time with the USMNT, while the performances of McKennie, Tillman, Trusty and others offer a positive final snapshot of the squad he leaves behind.
- Result: United States 6, Haiti 0.
- Competition: CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal, first leg.
- Next match: The second leg is scheduled for next Tuesday.
- Coaching transition: Pochettino is set to join Manchester United on Nov. 18.
