# Pulisic passes Wynalda as USMNT thrash Haiti 6-0 in Pochettino's penultimate match

Source: SportsBriefly (https://sportsbriefly.com)
Canonical URL: https://sportsbriefly.com/en/soccer/pulisic-passes-wynalda-as-usmnt-thrash-haiti-6-0-in-pochettino-s-penultimate-mat
Language: en
Published: 2026-11-15T03:00:42.015+00:00
Updated: 2026-11-15T03:00:42.066838+00:00

> The United States beat Haiti 6-0 in Miami in the first leg of their CONCACAF Nations League quarter-final on 14 November.

## TL;DR
- The United States beat Haiti 6-0 in Miami in the first leg of their CONCACAF Nations League quarter-final on 14 November.
- Christian Pulisic scored twice to reach 35 international goals, passing Eric Wynalda for fourth on the USMNT all-time list.
- Auston Trusty, Julian Hall, Weston McKennie and Folarin Balogun also scored in the biggest win of Mauricio Pochettino's USMNT reign.
- Pochettino leaves for Manchester United on 18 November after Tuesday's second leg in Cincinnati, his final match in charge.
- Haiti would need to win 7-0 in the return leg to advance, with away goals as the first tiebreaker.

## Key points
- The United States beat Haiti 6-0 in Miami in the first leg of their CONCACAF Nations League quarter-final on 14 November.
- Christian Pulisic scored twice to reach 35 international goals, passing Eric Wynalda for fourth on the USMNT all-time list.
- Auston Trusty, Julian Hall, Weston McKennie and Folarin Balogun also scored in the biggest win of Mauricio Pochettino's USMNT reign.
- Pochettino leaves for Manchester United on 18 November after Tuesday's second leg in Cincinnati, his final match in charge.
- Haiti would need to win 7-0 in the return leg to advance, with away goals as the first tiebreaker.

The United States did not merely win Mauricio Pochettino's penultimate match in charge. On a loud Saturday night in Miami, the Americans turned a farewell into a statement, beating Haiti 6-0 in the first leg of their CONCACAF Nations League quarter-final and all but settling the tie before Tuesday's return leg in Cincinnati.

Christian Pulisic scored twice in the space of about a minute early in the second half, while Auston Trusty, Julian Hall, Weston McKennie and Folarin Balogun added one goal each. It was the biggest win of Pochettino's two-year reign, and it put the United States firmly on course for the Nations League semi-finals in March and a place at the 2027 Gold Cup.

The build-up had been dominated by news of Pochettino's departure for Manchester United, announced only days earlier and just months after he had signed a contract extension to lead the Americans through the 2030 World Cup. Pochettino had spoken emotionally about his staff and players on Friday, and Balogun later called the Argentine "an amazing manager", adding: "It's sad to see a top coach leave." There was little sign of distraction once the match began at Nu Stadium, where Haiti were the nominal hosts and their supporters made up much of a loud crowd.

## A patient first half, then the floodgates open

For all the early control, the United States went into half-time with only a one-goal lead. Trusty broke the deadlock in the 10th minute, stabbing home at the far post from Sebastian Berhalter's free kick after a lengthy VAR check confirmed the goal. At the break, the Americans had held 73 percent of possession and led 8-2 on shot attempts, yet Haiti goalkeeper Alexandre Pierre had kept the damage to a single goal.

Haiti, missing three of their top centre-backs through injury, had their moments. Goalkeeper Diego Kochen, starting close to his childhood home in Florida, made a strong leg save to deny Danley Jean-Jacques in a one-on-one, and Haiti briefly threatened on the counter through Josue Casimir and Lenny Joseph.

![Mauricio Pochettino, head coach of the United States, at the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup](https://api.sportsbriefly.com/storage/v1/object/public/media/api/1794711622820-gbsm2m-soccer-inside1-2026-11-15-morning.jpg)

The second half removed any doubt. Hall, the 18-year-old forward chosen to start ahead of Balogun, doubled the lead in the 52nd minute, finishing a swift counter-attack after a through ball from Pulisic released Antonee Robinson down the left. Six American players were involved in the move.

Pulisic then took the match away from Haiti in a devastating two-minute burst. He won a penalty in the 62nd minute after being brought down by Carlens Arcus, who had been pressed into service at centre-back, and converted from the spot to make it 3-0. Barely a minute later, he curled a low shot into the bottom corner from outside the penalty area, with Alex Freeman credited with the assist, to make it 4-0.

## Pulisic climbs the scoring chart

The brace carried significance beyond the night. Pulisic's penalty was his 34th international goal, drawing him level with Eric Wynalda for fourth place on the United States' all-time scoring list. His second goal, moments later, took him to 35 and moved him past Wynalda outright. Jozy Altidore, on 42 goals, is now the next name ahead of him.

It was also Pulisic's first goal for the national team since 31 May, and a reminder of his value after a mixed World Cup on home soil, during which he was hot and cold and missed time through injury. On Saturday, he put both of his shots on target and was substituted in the 81st minute with the job done.

Malik Tillman was the other creative force, finishing with two assists. His corner found McKennie unmarked at the near post in the 68th minute, and the midfielder headed home for 5-0. Tillman later played the through ball that released Balogun for the final goal. Haiti thought they had pulled one back in between, when Joseph finished a quick move, but the goal was ruled out for offside after a VAR review. Balogun then had a goal disallowed, after VAR spotted a foul on Arcus, before finally scoring the goal that counted in the 83rd minute, finishing low through Pierre's legs and pointing to his wrist in his trademark celebration, a nod to basketball star Damian Lillard.

![Folarin Balogun playing for the United States against Belgium in March 2026](https://api.sportsbriefly.com/storage/v1/object/public/media/api/1794711639022-cr0s9s-soccer-inside2-2026-11-15-morning.jpg)

## Youth, depth and what Tuesday still means

The depth of the performance was as encouraging as the scoreline. Hall's goal capped a lively display, Balogun's return to the scoresheet gave Pochettino another option in attack, and Berhalter, Robinson, Freeman and Tillman all contributed assists. Kochen, who grew up about 20 minutes from the stadium, kept a clean sheet and called it "an unbelievable experience" to represent the United States so close to home.

For Haiti, the evening was a harsh lesson in how quickly a tie can slip away. They had qualified for the World Cup and arrived in Miami with genuine ambition, but the makeshift defence could not cope once the United States increased the tempo after half-time. Away goals are the first tiebreaker, so Haiti would now need to win 7-0 in Cincinnati to advance. The winners will reach March's Nations League Final Four and secure a place at the 2027 Gold Cup.

The return leg on Tuesday, 17 November, at FC Cincinnati's TQL Stadium will therefore be about more than the result. It will be Pochettino's final match in charge, and a chance for his players to give him a proper farewell in front of a home crowd. Pochettino will join Manchester United on 18 November, but on Saturday night in Miami, the ending belonged to the United States.

Mentions: Christian Pulisic, Mauricio Pochettino, United States, Haiti, Julian Hall, Folarin Balogun, Weston McKennie, Auston Trusty, Malik Tillman, Eric Wynalda, Jozy Altidore, Manchester United, CONCACAF Nations League, Nu Stadium, Miami, Cincinnati, Alexandre Pierre, Diego Kochen, Antonee Robinson, Sebastian Berhalter

## Sources
- [nbcsports.com](https://www.nbcsports.com/soccer/live/haiti-vs-usmnt-live-updates-score-goals-highlights-stats-2026-november-14)
- [usatoday.com](https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/soccer/usmnt/2026/11/14/usa-vs-haiti-score-watch-highlights-concacaf-soccer-channel--live/92778994007/)
- [theheraldreview.com](https://www.theheraldreview.com/sports/article/pulisic-balogun-return-as-the-us-routs-haiti-6-0-22531265.php)
- [mlssoccer.com](https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/usmnt-deliver-six-goal-statement-in-mauricio-pochettino-s-penultimate-match)