As the US men’s national team faced South Korea on Saturday, ominous storm clouds hung over the stadium, hinting at the difficulties the American team was about to encounter.
The match did not go well for the US, culminating in a 2-0 defeat—this being their first friendly since losing the Gold Cup final in July. The pressure is now mounting as they gear up for next summer’s World Cup.
This particular lineup, featuring a number of MLS players, fell behind early and struggled to generate much offense throughout the match.
In the first half, while the team managed some decent ball movement, their shots on goal were disappointingly few.
Overall, the US took just five shots during the entire game.
In contrast, South Korea kept the Americans on their toes, with star player Heung Min Son becoming a favorite among the fans. He scored the first goal in the 18th minute, showcasing his impressive skills as he maneuvered past the American defense.
The LAFC standout was able to bypass the US backline and send the ball past goalkeeper Matt Freeze, igniting excitement among Korean supporters and causing the stadium to tremble.
South Korea doubled their lead in the 43rd minute when Lee Dong-Gyeong completed a quick sequence of plays, taking advantage of a misstep that left Freeze out of position for an easy goal.
The best chance for the Americans came earlier in the match. Sebastian Barhalter seized an opportunity after a failed clearance, firing a long shot that forced South Korean goalkeeper John Wu into a dive to make a save.
Tim Weah also had a moment in the first half when the ball unexpectedly came his way, but his shot veered off to the right of the net.
This match marked the first game at the stadium since 2017, and it was the first appearance for American star Christian Pulisic after he opted out of the Gold Cup.
Weah had to leave the pitch in the 62nd minute due to a visible injury, having previously shown signs of limping.
Before the match, the Red Bulls paid tribute to former USMNT great Michael Bradley from Princeton, New Jersey.
Despite the loss, alumni from the national team voiced optimism about the program’s future.
“They’re on the right track,” he noted. “As the World Cup approaches, they keep pushing themselves and figuring out how to support one another.”
Saturday’s game was one of two friendlies scheduled for the US men’s national team this month, with another match against Japan in Columbus coming up on Tuesday.
