Malik Tillman shines as USMNT secures a much-needed win

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- A United States men's nationalist squad shorn of immoderate of their biggest stars kicked disconnected their 2025 Gold Cup tally with a 5-0 triumph implicit Trinidad and Tobago astatine PayPal Park connected Sunday.

Led by a brace from Malik Tillman, the U.S. were dynamic arsenic they consistently tested the visitors, yet taking a 3-0 pb by half-time that included a extremity from Patrick Agyemang. In the 2nd half, Trinidad and Tobago looked much lively, but it was the U.S.' Brenden Aaronson and Haji Wright who added 2 much goals aft the 81st minute.

With 3 points successful manus aft their tourney opener, manager Mauricio Pochettino and his men volition present look Saudi Arabia connected June 5. As for Trinidad and Tobago, they'll question to bounce backmost against Haiti successful their adjacent radical signifier match.

Here are the 3 biggest talking points from Sunday's win.

1. Tillman puts connected amusement with goals, flair

It was an awesome 90+ minutes for the 23-year-old attacking midfielder.

Tillman not lone stole the spotlight with his 2 first-half goals, but besides with his clever and eye-catching one-touch passes that seemed to drawback each opposing subordinate disconnected guard. With the backdrop of a sunny California day, the PSV Eindhoven antheral seemed to beryllium genuinely enjoying himself arsenic helium linked up good with members of the onslaught similar Jack McGlynn and Diego Luna, who provided assists for the midfielder.

For fans of the USMNT, it was a motion of alleviation to spot the subordinate who has yet to consistently execute for state successful the aforesaid mode that helium has stepped up for his club. If helium tin support the signifier that has made him recognized arsenic 1 of the apical players successful the Eredivisie, there's nary crushed wherefore the USMNT can't find occurrence astatine the Gold Cup.

2. Pochettino finds much-needed chemistry with XI, subs

Credit wherever recognition is due.

After stumbling to 2 defeats successful his caller tune-up matches, Pochettino turned his broadside astir with a well-balanced XI that had nary existent issues against Trinidad and Tobago. Moving forward, accelerated shot progression and unpredictable movements were cardinal wrong a archetypal fractional that cemented their lead. In the midfield, Luca de la Torre marshaled the bosom of the pitch, and successful enactment defensively, skipper Tim Ream thrived arsenic a reliable leader.

By the 2nd half, Pochettino's substitutes seemed conscionable arsenic anxious to marque their mark. Through a mates of assists from Max Arfsten to goal-scoring options disconnected the seat similar Aaronson and Wright, the U.S. were capable to cement a near-perfect performance.

Obviously, this should beryllium taken with a atom of brackish against the Concacaf minnows that person a 0W-0D-5L grounds all-time against the U.S. successful the Gold Cup. Nonetheless, that won't substance to the manager that has conscionable stopped a four-game losing streak arsenic they question a rubric this summer.

3. Local kid Luna shines successful beforehand of household and friends

Playing not excessively acold from his hometown, Sunnyvale, Luna was each state and nary brakes connected Sunday.

Easily the astir energetic subordinate of the U.S. XI, the 21-year-old covered an immense magnitude of crushed arsenic helium not lone stole a shot that led to a Tillman goal, but besides provided an assistance for Agyemang -- which for each intents and purposes should beryllium recognized arsenic a Luna extremity that was deflected by Agyemang.

Heading into the match, Luna told media that helium would person 30 household and friends astatine the Gold Cup opener. If helium was fixed arsenic galore tickets arsenic wanted? "[They] could capable fractional the stadium," said the midfielder with a smirk.

Recognized arsenic a scrappy but bare up-and-coming player, this could beryllium the commencement of a memorable tourney for the Real Salt Lake prima that was galvanized by his hometown. The show was a affirmative motion for the California kid, and for the USMNT this summer.