It was quite the week for U.S. Soccer. The USMNT pulled off back-to-back victories over Jamaica on Thursday and Monday in Mauricio Pochettino’s first two competitive matches as U.S. manager. An excellent start to the Poch Era, indeed.

But for me personally, there was a different sort of American soccer "win" that occurred recently. One that hit far closer to home.

This past week, I was informed that my 11-year-old son, Kasper, successfully made it through three rounds of tryouts and was accepted to the Eastern New York Olympic Development Program for the 2012 (birth year) age group.

As a part of the United States Youth Soccer Association, "ODP" was created in 1977 to "identify high-level youth soccer talent, then select players for regional development programs and national camps." While there are naturally many other routes a player can take, the program has a long history of feeding talent up to the U.S. men's and women's national teams, from Eric Wynalda and Joe Max-Moore to Emily Fox and Rose Lavelle.

But none of this is to put those sorts of expectations or pressure on my own son. I truly cannot emphasize that enough, as the two of us are quite realistic about what this step means for him. Making his local ODP team was simply a goal he set for himself this season, and one that he worked hard to achieve, including ball control drills when he wasn't playing with his club teams, and going for conditioning runs on off days.

He was naturally very happy when he found out he had made the final roster. I was quite proud of him for embracing new challenges, and having the courage to stare down potential rejection.

I also couldn't help but reflect on what football has already given him in his young life. It's shown him the rewards that can come from hard work, as well as the value of being a good teammate. It also reminded me of the myriad ways this game can bring joy to our own lives, whether as a player, coach, fan, or parent.

Well done, Kazza. And thank you, football.

Now we newsletter.

—Randy Kim

Poch Tour Books LA Dates

Hollywood is about to get 100% more Poch.

Thanks to the away and home wins over Jamaica mentioned above — despite having two former program heads watching from the stands in St. Louis — Mauricio Pochettino and the USMNT will now face Panama in the CONCACAF Nations League semi-finals on March 20 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.

If the U.S. wins, our boys would then face either Mexico or Canada in the final.

That means it’d be either USMNT-El Tri, or Poch vs. Jesse Marsch. Pure box office either way.

📺 Watch our instant reaction to US 4 - 2 Jamaica with Rog and Dax McCarty on our YouTube channel.

On the Scoresheet

All the goals from the USMNT’s wins in Kingston and St. Louis …

🇺🇸 Ricardo Pepi with the early match-winner in the United States’ 1-0 win at Jamaica on Thursday

🇺🇸 Christian Pulisic dinks home the opener in the USMNT’s 4-2 win over Jamaica on Monday

🇺🇸 Christian Pulisic also scores the second, via a lovely Weston McKennie assist and Tanner Tessmann dummy

🇺🇸 Tim Weah with the half-volley smash in his first game for Poch 💥

🇺🇸 Ricardo Pepi makes it two goals in the two wins. Good luck getting that 9 shirt off his back.

News and Notes

• How do you celebrate your first two competitive wins as USMNT manager? If you’re Mauricio Pochettino, you head home to Argentina and catch a match at your old club, Newell’s Old Boys.

• More on the New Boss: Poch Ball isn’t just effective, it’s apparently expressive and attractive as well.

• We could have another American midfielder in England, as latest reports are that some Premier League clubs are interested in FC Heidenheim’s Lennard Maloney.

• Congrats to the U.S. U-20s for impressive wins over France and Korea. Dortmund’s own Cole Campbell was one of the goal-scorers in the 2-1 win over Les Baby Bleus. 

Parting Shots

Believe it or not, Mauricio Pochettino was not the only member of U.S. Soccer being celebrated at the Newell’s Old Boys match on Wednesday. In the 48th minute, former U.S. U-20 midfielder Matko Miljevic got on the end of a low Ever Banega cross to give the hosts a 2-1 second-half lead over Central Cordoba de Santiago (watch). Unfortunately, the Rosario side could not hold on to the lead, eventually falling 3-2 in Poch’s homecoming.

Miljevic — a 23-year-old from Miami who is eligible to play for Argentina, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, or the United States — has had a career interspersed with equal measures of promise and controversy. According to reports, after signing a three-and-a-half year contract with CF Montreal, Miljevic played in a local indoor soccer league under a false name, and also apparently got into an altercation with a player while watching a match in the league. The midfielder then had his contract terminated by MLS, but later signed with Newell’s in the Primera Division. Here’s to smoother days ahead for the talented Miljevic, who picked an opportune time to score his second goal in the Argentinian top flight.