How good were the USMNT boys tonight? After a sordid loss to South Korea last weekend, the Yanks bounced back in stellar style as they subdued Japan 2-0 at Lower.com Field on Tuesday. With the win, Mauricio Pochettino’s team also proved that critics of the USMNT’s Argentinian boss should think twice before dismissing his coaching wisdom. Following the win, Folarin Balogun, who had been facing a goalless spell for a long time, once again underscored how the ex-Tottenham manager has been instrumental behind the national team’s success.

Talking to NBC Sports after today’s match, the 24-year-old striker hailed Pochettino for helping the team navigate through troubled waters. “We’re building something big here with a top coach, and it takes time. He tried to emphasize that to us — to be patient — but at the end of the day, the result is the most important thing so I’m happy we were able to get it today,” Balogun said on how the seasoned coach has been able to uphold his end of the bargain. But let’s face it, hanging on hasn’t been really easy.

The USMNT has faced severe criticism from fans and experts alike on its poor results in recent months. Even today, before the match, as the starting lineup was announced, fans came after Pochettino & Co, claiming that the squad didn’t look up to the mark. “Embarrassing” is what some fans labeled the team. With the sonorous win helping to silence the haters, the coach still made an appeal to the country’s soccer loyalists to reserve the harsh comments for him instead of the players.

“I prefer that the people criticize me, but don’t touch the player. I hope in the future, criticize me, criticize me, but let the player play free, go and perform,” Pochettino said during the post-match presser. No doubt, the flak coming the USMNT’s way in recent months has gotten under the former PSG manager’s skin, and he didn’t hesitate to note that he’d now like the situation to change.

But the coach does have his reasons to make demands right now. After all, following the 2-0 defeat to Korea on Saturday, fans had almost lost all hope of the national team making any impact at the 2026 World Cup, which the US is slated to co-host with Canada and Mexico. But what changed against Japan? As Balogun puts it, “I think we were just more together. We were obviously more clinical as well, in both boxes. That’s what the coach wanted us to do, so overall I’m really happy.”

The Monaco star would feel extra swell after his big performance at today’s match. When the USMNT camp commenced earlier this month, Balogun was eager to prove himself to Pochettino. “I think it’s something we’ve done all our careers, and everyone wants to make an impression, and I think that’s just natural,” the star told reporters on how the World Cup is making the entire roster strive for greatness in the final stretches.

But this is indeed the endgame, and Mauricio would want nothing more than to see his boys carry forward the momentum from today.

USNMNT’s performance should make Mauricio Pochettino rest easy

Ex-USMNT star Frankie Hejduk recently slammed the current USMNT star for losing its way. Carli Lloyd, the former USWNT icon also joined in on the criticism. Following the defeat to Korea, the former Olympic champ slammed Pochettino’s boys for having lost their way. “They have lost the foundation that the #USMNT and #USWNT have been built on all these years. Grit, passion, energy and the fearlessness to go out and compete against anyone. Now they are scrambling to get that mentality back which isn’t an automatic switch,” Lloyd said on how the things have looked astray in recent months.

With today’s examplary performance, Lloyd had to cede ground. She took to X shortly after the win over Japan to laud the USMNT for a job well done. Moreover, today’s match once again proved just how crucial Christian Pulisic is for the team. The ex-Chelsea star skipped the CONCACAF Gold Cup, citing tiredness, drawing massivecriticism from the fans. However, today, upon his return to the squad, Pulisic’s pass found Balogun in the second half and the latter didn’t fail to convert the opportunity.

With the World Cup less than 10 months away, could this be the much-needed break Mauricio Pochettino and the USMNT needed?