HARRISON, N.J. — The recent match showcased the significant gap between statistics and reality in soccer. The U.S. Men’s National Team (USMNT) appeared to dominate based on stats, outshooting South Korea 17-5, achieving superior ball possession, and having better passing accuracy. However, the actual outcome told a different story.

“Overall, I think we were better than South Korea,” said U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino. Translation: Overall, I believe we were superior to South Korea.

Unfortunately, reality contradicted this assertion. South Korea’s star player, Son Heung-min, scored just 17 minutes into the game, energizing the audience of 26,500 at Sports Illustrated Stadium. He later assisted on a goal for Lee Dong-gyeong before halftime.

The Koreans maintained control throughout the game, while the U.S. struggled to create significant chances until the match concluded, enduring yet another disheartening defeat against a globally ranked opponent.

The day before this match, Pochettino emphasized that the focus wasn’t just on results but also on the team’s competitive spirit as they prepared to face Japan next.

In the aftermath, players like Christian Pulisic and Tim Weah reflected on the need to boost performance against stronger opponents, while defender Sergino Dest remarked, “We need to be sharp at all times.” Translation: We have to maintain our sharpness continuously.

The U.S. did improve in the second half but failed to capitalize on any of their chances, leaving Pochettino disappointed at the final score. He expressed a desire to shift focus toward upcoming matches with winning being crucial ahead of the World Cup.

“We want to develop and learn from this experience. We have talented players, and I believe we will be much stronger,” said Pochettino. Translation: Our aim is to grow and learn from this encounter. We possess talented players and will be in a much better position.