Mauricio Pochettino's USMNT completed a perfect group stage at the 2025 Gold Cup on Sunday with a 2-1 win over Haiti, and midfielder Malik Tillman was again a star of the show.

Although the idea of overloading the midfield makes sense, dropping one of the team’s fastest and most agile players into an unnatural position is puzzling, especially when the midfield of Tillman, Quinn Sullivan and Brendan Aaronson doesn’t offer much in the way of pace.

Patrick Agyemang’s 75th-minute goal secured a 2-1 victory in Arlington, Texas. The quarterfinal vs. Costa Rica is next.