Pochettino wins US debut as Musah and Pepi score second-half goals in 2-0 victory over Panama

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Mauricio Pochettino arrived at Q2 Stadium to see posters and banners with his face around the grandstand and behind a goal.

By the time he left, he was saluting fans who were cheering his name. The 52-year-old Argentine's debut as U.S. coach was a crowd-pleasing success.

Yunus Musah scored a 49th-minute goal off an assist from AC Milan teammate Christian Pulisic and Ricardo Pepi added a stoppage time strike to close out 2-0 win over Panama on Saturday night.

The match in front of a near-capacity crowd of 20,239 was the first of two friendlies for the U.S. in a four-day span that includes a game against Mexico on Tuesday in Guadalajara. The Americans ended a four-game winless stretch and their first four-game home winless streak since a seven-game slide in 2010-11.

“Little by little building something. The objective is 2026,” Pochettino said. “It’s only the first step.”

And the love-at-first sight from the U.S. fans?

“Amazing. Amazing. Thank you to the fans. You were amazing,” Pochettino said.

The former Tottenham, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain manager was hired last month to replace Gregg Berhalter, who was fired in July after first-round elimination at the Copa America. Pochettino was given a contract through the 2026 World Cup that the U.S. will co-host and tasked with sparking a team that has not reached the World Cup quarterfinals since 2002.

Musah made the most of the team's fresh start, scoring his first goal in 42 international appearances.

“Hopefully more to come,” Musah said.

Antonee Robinson worked around defender Michael Murillo on a flank and centered to Pulisic, who exchanged passes with Brenden Aaronson and one-timed a cross. Musah beat defender César Blackman and redirected the ball with a right-foot volley past Orlando Mosquera from 4 yards.

“I told him it was goal-scoring instincts. He's been watching me,” said Pulisic, who has five goals in seven Serie A matches this season. “He's been learning a thing or two. But honestly, that moment ... it's great to see that.”

Pulisic played for his eighth U.S. coach, a record for an American player. The U.S. was missing injured regulars Sergiño Dest, Tyler Adams, Gio Reyna, Tim Weah and Folarin Balogun.

Three second-half subs combined for the second goal in the fourth minute of stoppage time. Malik Tillman brought down a kick from goalkeeper Matt Turner and passed to Haji Wright, who crossed. A Texas native, Pepi slid the ball through Mosquera’s legs for his 11th goal in 31 appearances — his fourth in three international games in Austin.

Turner, who played all four matches at the 2022 World Cup, made a double save in the 52nd minute, batting Puma Rodríguez’s shot with his left hand, then diving back in front to get his body in front of Yoel Bárcenas’ attempt off the rebound.

Panama’s José Fajardo put an open shot wide in the 87th minute. The U.S. had 55% possession and was outshot 13-11.

“It was a good night, but I don't want to get way too ahead of ourselves,” Turner said. “It was a building block for the future. By no means was it perfect.”

Panama beat the U.S. in the Copa America group stage, a match in which Weah was given an early red card for punching an opponent.

“I didn’t feel too many changes. But when a new coach is coming, for sure a victory, and that’s what happened,” Panama coach Thomas Christiansen said. “He will also need time to adapt his ideas to the team. He has the knowledge and experience, and he has the players to do to the job.”

Tim Ream captained the Americans one week after his 37th birthday and became the oldest U.S. field player since Preki Radosavljević in 2001. Forward Josh Sargent made his first start since the 2022 group-stage final against Iran.

Mexican referee Katia Garcia was believed to be the first woman to referee a U.S. men’s national team match.

Goalkeeper Zack Steffen, who hasn’t played for the U.S. since the last World Cup qualifiers in March 2022, did not dress because of what the U.S. Soccer Federation said was a minor injury. Defender Marlon Fossey, who did not train on the field in recent days, also didn’t dress. Weston McKennie didn't play because he arrived at camp banged up, Pochettino said.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

United States midfielder Yunus Musah (6), left, celebrates with forward Josh Sargent (24) and teammates after scoring against Panama during the second half of an international friendly soccer match, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Rodolfo Gonzalez)

United States head coach, Mauricio Pochettino, speaks with forward, Ricardo Pepi, (9), before a substitution against Panama during the second half of a international friendly soccer match, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Rodolfo Gonzalez)

United States head coach Mauricio Pochettino reacts during the second half of an international friendly soccer match against Panama, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Rodolfo Gonzalez)

United States head coach Mauricio Pochettino celebrates with fans after defeating Panama in an international friendly soccer match, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Rodolfo Gonzalez)

United States forward, Ricardo Pepi, (9) celebrates his goal against Panama during the second half of a international friendly soccer match, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Rodolfo Gonzalez)

United States head coach, Mauricio Pochettino, celebrates with fans after defeating Panama in an international friendly soccer match, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Rodolfo Gonzalez)

United States forward Brendon Aaronson, center front, is tackled by Panama midfielder Abidel Ayarza (5) during the first half of an international friendly soccer match, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Rodolfo Gonzalez)

United States forward Josh Sargent (24) collides with Panama goalkeeper Orlando Mosquera (22) and defender Cesar Blackman (2) on a corner kick during the first half of an international friendly soccer match, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Rodolfo Gonzalez)

United States forward Josh Sargent (24) goes down after a tackle by Panama defender Edgardo Farina (24) during the first half of an international friendly soccer match, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Rodolfo Gonzalez)

United States midfielder Yunus Musah, left, takes on Panama defender Austin Trusty (2) during the first half of an international friendly soccer match, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Rodolfo Gonzalez)

United States head coach Mauricio Pochettino, front left, and first assistant coach Jesus Perez, right, stand for the national anthem before an international friendly soccer match against Panama, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Rodolfo Gonzalez)

NEW YORK (AP) — Mets pitcher Kodai Senga will start Game 1 of the National League Championship Series against Jack Flaherty and the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday, continuing his comeback from injuries that have limited him to two starts this year.

New York manager Carlos Mendoza said “everybody should be available and ready to go” in his bullpen.

“So it’s Senga and then we’ll see after that," he said Saturday before the Mets held a light workout at Citi Field prior to leaving for Los Angeles.

Flaherty joined the Dodgers from Detroit at the July 30 trade deadline. The right-hander struggled in Game 2 of the NL Division Series against the San Diego Padres, giving up four earned runs and five hits in 5 1/3 innings.

Senga returned from a long layoff in the Division Series, appearing on a major league mound for the first time since late July. He started Game 1 against the Philadelphia Phillies on Oct. 5 and gave up one run over two innings in the Mets’ 6-2 win.

Senga missed the first 102 games this season due to a right shoulder capsule strain and lasted 5 1/3 innings in his lone regular-season start July 26, when he limited the Atlanta Braves to two runs before straining his left calf.

Mendoza said the next day that if the Mets "get to see (Senga) pitch again this year, that means we’re in a good spot.” The 31-year-old right-hander made just one brief minor league rehab appearance before returning in Philadelphia.

“There’s not a number I have in mind,” Senga said through an interpreter when asked about his potential pitch limit Saturday. “I’m going until they take the ball away from me and I’m going to go at 100% until then.”

Going with Senga in Game 1 — for however long — allows the Mets to maximize rest for the remainder of their rotation at this point.

Sean Manaea, who will start Game 2 on Monday at Dodger Stadium on five days' rest, has thrown a career-high 193 2/3 innings while Luis Severino has tossed 194 innings, his most since 2018. David Peterson threw a career-high 121 regular-season innings and has emerged as a pivotal bullpen piece with 6 1/3 scoreless innings in the playoffs.

“From the beginning, we wanted to put our guys in what we felt was the best position to have success considering where they’re at physically,” Mendoza said. “For Senga, we wanted to keep it as close as possible to his routine. And then with some of the other guys, like I said, it’s because of where they’re at physically and who will benefit from an extra day.”

Counting the appearance against the Phillies, Senga has made 28 of his 31 big league starts on at least five days of rest.

Senga might not be the only unexpected contributor for the Cinderella Mets in the NLCS. Jeff McNeil, whose regular season ended Sept. 6 because of a broken right wrist sustained when he was hit by a pitch, went 1 for 4 with a walk while playing second base Friday night for the Scottsdale Scorpions of the Arizona Fall League.

Mendoza said McNeil was scheduled to play right field Saturday for Scottsdale and there was “a good chance he’ll be on the roster” for the NLCS as long as he remains healthy.

“Kind of hit me, I think it was yesterday, when we were going through a lot of these conversations and I went back to when I announced that Senga was done for the regular season and then when Jeff gets hit and we get the results, it’s broke and he’s done,” Mendoza said. “And here we were yesterday, having those conversations. It was a good feeling — pretty incredible. I’m just glad that they are healthy now.”

A previous version of this story corrected the number of big league starts Senga has made in his career.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

New York Mets pitcher Kodai Senga walks to the dugout during the second inning of Game 1 of a baseball NL Division Series against the Philadelphia Phillies, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

New York Mets pitcher Kodai Senga shags balls in the outfield before Game 3 of the National League baseball playoff series against the Philadelphia Phillies, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)