After a 5-0 thrashing of Trinidad and Tobago on Sunday to begin the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup campaign, the United States men's national team defeated Saudi Arabia 1-0 earlier tonight to punch its ticket to the knockout stage of the tournament.
Here are three thoughts from the victory at Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas.
Matt Freese keeps his starting spot
New York City FC goalkeeper Matt Freese was the surprise starter over veteran Matt Turner when the USMNT faced Trinidad and Tobago on Sunday, but he made the most of that opportunity. Freese had two crucial saves en route to his first clean sheet for his country and looked like he belonged between the posts.
A performance like that made the starting role his to lose. It was no surprise when head coach Mauricio Pochettino decided to stick with Freese, stating before the game that he "deserved" the opportunity "because he's doing well in his club, and of course, is to give now some continuity to see how he deals with the pressure to be No 1 in the national team" per Steven Goff of the Washington Post.
Sure enough, Freese was in the Starting XI for this game. He made just one save against Saudi Arabia to earn his second straight clean sheet — and his second in three caps for the USMNT. While Freese made just one save his commanding presence in goal helped settle the squad defensively, allowing an inconsistent attack to try to find a way to unlock the Saudi Arabia backline.
Chris Richards with the block | Courtesy USMNT
The visitors might have had only one shot on target, but they threatened at times. Saudi Arabia could've taken the lead in the 31st minute, as a pass found Abdulrahman Alobud wide open in the final third. Alobud dribbled into the USMNT's box and looked poised to beat Freese from point-blank range, but Chris Richards made a crucial sliding block to keep Saudi Arabia scoreless.
Andrew Leigh
Poor first half, slightly better second half
Pochettino deployed the same lineup that beat Trinidad and Tobago, marking the first time he rolled out the same Starting XI in back-to-back matches since taking over as head coach of the national team.
The USMNT had more than 70 percent of the ball in the first half. But the attack mustered only two shots in the first 45 minutes, with just one on target — a Patrick Agyemang header right at Saudi Arabian goalkeeper Nawaf Alaqidi. The United States completed 313 passes to Saudi Arabia's 107 in the first half, but just nine were in the opposition's box. The USMNT dominated the game statistically, but a lack of attacking threat allowed the first half to finish scoreless.
9 - Only 9 of the #USMNT's 424 touches in the first half against Saudi Arabia were in the box. Cautious.
— OptaJack (@optajack.optajoe.com) Jun 19, 2025 at 10:09 PM
[image or embed]
The USMNT started the second half with more intensity and directness. It paid off on a free kick in the 63rd minute: Sebastian Berhalter played a dipping ball that Richards got his left foot on, blasting it into the back of the net for his second career international goal.
Chris Richards slots home the goal | Courtesy USMNT
The USMNT pushed for the second goal to put the game to bed, but lacked the final product in the final third. Overall, the United States attempted five shots, three on target in 90 minutes, despite having 68 percent possession and completing 269 more passes than Saudi Arabia.
Matthew Mangam
Knockout stage awaits
As expected, the USMNT will advance to the knockout stage of the Concacaf Gold Cup with one final group stage game left to play against Haiti on Sunday.
Pochettino's go-to lineup, which has an average age of 25 years and 79 days, worked despite the lack of experienced players. Granted, the USMNT has yet to play a solid opponent, but that could change in the Round of 16.
The USMNT could face either Mexico or Costa Rica in the Round of 16 on June 28 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, AZ. Both potential opponents have their dangers: Costa Rica's strike duo of Alonso Martínez and Manfred Ugdale is a threat, and Mexico always provides a physical and challenging match for the Yanks.
The USMNT entered the tournament as favorites to appear in the final, but they first will need to get past one of these tough opponents. Right after they face Haiti in the final group stage match on Sunday, June 22 at 7:00 pm ET at AT&T Stadium in Glendale, AZ.
Matthew Mangam
