The highly anticipated face-off between Hervé Renard and Mauricio Pochettino only partially lived up to expectations of a dynamic, high-scoring affair between two of the sport’s most tactically astute minds.
At least for the first 20 minutes, the ball moved fluently from one US player to another, with Saudi Arabia only occasionally breaking the rhythm through a few fouls. The USMNT controlled 67% possession and completed 535 passes, asserting dominance in their second Gold Cup match.
Around the 30-minute mark, the American defense had its first real scare. Wearing number 24, Abdulrahman Alobud surged forward at full speed and nearly gave the Saudis the lead, but was halted just in time by Chris Richards.
Then came the 40 minutes that changed the game.
After returning from the break following a flurry of chances from Diego Luna and Max Arfsten, Pochettino’s side came back out with clear intent: find the opening goal.
The Saudis responded by tightening their defensive lines, making life difficult for players like Agyemang, who struggled to find space in front of goal. Luna, however, continued to dazzle with clever footwork and feints – so much so that defenders like Abdulhamid began targeting him with tactical fouls to break his rhythm.
Just before the hour mark, Q2 Stadium held its breath as Saudi Arabia fired another dangerous shot – one that rattled the post. The effort was ultimately moot, called back for offside against Ziyad Al Johani.
It was in the 63rd minute that the deadlock was finally broken. Chris Richards lashed a fierce left-footed shot into the net after receiving a pinpoint pass from Sebastian Berhalter, who capitalized on a well-earned set piece. It was a sharp finish that finally brought life to the scoreboard.
Seven minutes of stoppage time weren’t enough
After scoring, the US slowed things down, as both sides made multiple substitutions and Saudi Arabia racked up fouls in a desperate effort to regain control. One of the late changes, Johnny Cardoso, was on the pitch for just 10 minutes and managed only three touches – an example of the fragmented rhythm in the final stretch.
Pushing into stoppage time, Renard’s team fought hard for an equalizer, but once again the offside flag denied them. In the 91st minute, Al-Amri was left poised for a clean shot after a through ball from Obud – a pass that never came.
The match ended with four yellow cards, six corners and just one goal – a stark contrast to the open contest many had predicted, but reminiscent of the goalless draw between these two teams back in 2022.