For the U.S. men’s national team, the buzzword of the month was “opportunity.” Opportunity for newcomers and reserves to displace absent regulars. Opportunity for the likes of Malik Tillman and Matt Freese to state their case for permanent starting spots. There were opportunities in friendlies, then in the Gold Cup; and on Sunday night, a 2-1 win over Haiti magnified which have been seized and which have been squandered.
Tillman, a 23-year-old attacking midfielder, has clearly taken his. He headed home his third goal in three games to give the USMNT an early lead.
Freese, on the other hand, a 26-year-old goalkeeper starting his third consecutive game, made his first costly error. He side-footed a pass straight to Haiti’s Louicius Don Deedson, who then beat Freese from a tough angle.
The equalizer gave Haiti belief. The rest of the first half was surprisingly even. It has been five decades since the Haitians beat the U.S. At times, it seemed like they were capable of doing so Sunday.
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The U.S., though, asserted itself gradually, especially in the second half. And in the 75th minute, Patrick Agyemang, another attacker with opportunity, won the game for the Americans.
Agyemang’s is a curious case. Physically, he is a handful. Technically, he is clearly not ready for the international level. Sunday’s game, for 70-plus minutes, was another one of shaky first touches and missed chances for the late-blooming 24-year-old. He has not done enough, at least thus far, to challenge the injured incumbents at striker, Ricardo Pepi and Folarin Balogun.
But in each of his three USMNT camps, just when fans have begun to conclude that he’s in over his head, Agyemang has scored. He did it again Sunday. Teammates mobbed him, gleefully. His positive attitude and work rate have, at the very least, brightened this makeshift version of the national team, and this sometimes dark month. There is a chance he has played himself into contention for a 2026 World Cup roster spot.
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Elsewhere on the field, Quinn Sullivan was occasionally lively. The 21-year-old Philadelphia Union product, making his first Gold Cup start, struck the crossbar with a flying left-footed effort. He tried a rabona. He sent in a few teasing crosses.
Brenden Aaronson was also active. But neither did enough to snatch a starting spot with two hands. At most, they earned another Gold Cup opportunity or two.
Tillman was, and is, the only player who has truly elevated his standing this month.
He “is an unbelievable talent,” as head coach Mauricio Pochettino said way back in October. He is a smooth and hungry playmaker who has added both duels and goals to his game. He was, at times, the very best player for PSV Eindhoven this past season in the Netherlands. He is “one of the most talented players that we have in the USA,” Pochettino said earlier this month, after Tillman scored twice against Trinidad and Tobago.
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He just hadn’t proven it in a U.S. jersey.
“I’ve been struggling a lot for the U.S. team, so for me, it’s about showing the real me,” Tillman told The Athletic at the beginning of June. “Because I know I have a lot of qualities and I know I’m a good player, but I haven’t shown it for this team yet.”
In the Gold Cup, finally, he has shown it. On Sunday, he was dangerous in the pockets, and in running in behind the Haitian back line. In addition to his valid goal, he scored two that were disallowed — one for offside, one for a handball — and nearly had another when he brought down a lofted Tyler Adams pass and attempted to lob the goalkeeper.
Of course, it is only the Gold Cup. But Tillman’s main competition for the No. 10 position, Gio Reyna, has been riding the Borussia Dortmund bench at the Club World Cup; whereas Tillman has been impressing Pochettino daily. He looks like he belongs.
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Now, though, we will see if he and the rest of this makeshift USMNT belong at a higher level.
With the 2-1 win, they clinched first place in Group D. In the quarterfinals next Sunday in Minneapolis, they will face Costa Rica.
