Defender Chris Richards scored the decisive goal in the 63rd minute to lift the United States to a 1-0 victory over Saudi Arabia on Thursday night in Austin. The win secured the Americans\' advancement to the Concacaf Gold Cup knockout stages.
Richards redirected Sebastian Berhalter\'s curving free kick past Saudi goalkeeper Nawaf Al-Aqidi with his left foot. The Crystal Palace defender also provided crucial defensive support, blocking a clear scoring chance from Abdulrahman Al-Obud in the 31st minute.
Pochettino Hails Richards\' Impact
Manager Mauricio Pochettino praised Richards\' two-way performance after the match. The defender is coming off a successful season with Crystal Palace, helping the club win its first FA Cup trophy.
The victory guaranteed the USMNT\'s progression from Group D with one match remaining. The Americans will secure the group\'s top spot with a draw or win against Haiti on Sunday in Arlington, Texas.
\"Now [Richards] is trying now to translate all this experience to this team with his performance, but most important being so humble,\" Pochettino said. \"And that is what I like the most because he arrived [in camp] and is always very open, to learn, to talk. I\'m so happy with him.\"
The match proved far more challenging than the Americans\' 5-0 demolition of Trinidad & Tobago four days earlier. Space in the attacking third was limited, with the USMNT managing just one shot in the opening half.
Pochettino made tactical adjustments at halftime, pushing fullback Alex Freeman higher up the field and dropping Berhalter deeper in midfield. The changes helped create more attacking opportunities before the set-piece breakthrough.
\"I think [we coped] very well with the pressure. I think it wasn\'t easy game. [Saudi Arabia], they\'re very competitive,\" Pochettino said. \"I think for the victory, I am so happy because I think to compete against these types of teams, I think for our team, for our players, it is massive.\"
The Gold Cup represents the final competitive test before the 2026 World Cup, where the United States will serve as co-host alongside Mexico and Canada.
Via ESPN