US concedes late goal in 1-1 draw vs New Zealand as Pochettino hired

Christian Pulisic stared in frustration after the final whistle and made clear how much work Mauricio Pochettino has ahead.

An 89th-minute defensive mix-up had dropped the United States into a 1-1 tie with New Zealand in a friendly on Tuesday night, a match that kicked off 30 minutes after the U.S. Soccer Federation announced it hired Pochettino to coach the Americans through the 2026 World Cup.

It's time to turn the page and we really have to pick it up a level, Pulisic said. Everyone is part of this and it feels pretty low right now, but I know there's better times ahead.

Mikey Varas led the team for the second game as interim coach following the firing of Gregg Berhalter, let go after the Americans' first-round elimination in the Copa America. The U.S. was coming off Saturday's 2-1 defeat to Canada, the Americans' first to the Canadians on home soil since 1957.

Pulisic put the U.S. ahead in the 69th minute, 12 minutes after entering, and with 31 international goals moved past Br