Team USA settles for a 1-1 draw against New Zealand – NBC Connecticut

The U.S. men’s national team ended their September games with a 1-1 draw against New Zealand. The match took place as Mauricio Pochettino was officially hired. Interim coach Mikey Varas led the team after a previous loss to Canada. The starting lineup featured a 4-4-2 formation with Folarin Balogun and Ricardo Pepi up top. Christian Pulisic opened the scoring in the second half, but New Zealand equalized just before the 90th minute. Despite eight added minutes, the U.S. couldn’t secure a win. New Zealand, ranked 94th by FIFA, looked more organized than the U.S. Pochettino will have key players like Gio Reyna and Weston McKennie back for the upcoming games in October against Panama and Mexico. The USMNT will have Pochettino in charge for the first time. The team will hope for better results in the next matches. In a related story, Cristo Fernández, known for his role as Dani Rojas on “Ted Lasso,” discusses how being a part of the soccer-themed show fueled his love for the sport.

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