How USMNT can improve upon its performances against Panama, Mexico

The United States Men's National Team began a new era under coach Mauricio Pochettino with two completely different results.

It kicked things off with an inspired 2-0 win over Panama in Austin on Saturday. Then it followed that up with a turgid, unimpressive 2-0 loss against Mexico on Tuesday.

Two games, two CONCACAF opponents, two relatively unchanged lineups but two wildly different results. 

What was the difference between the USMNT's performances during this international window? And what does it need to learn from them?

Here are the USMNT's biggest areas for improvement as the October international window closes.

A more flexible midfield

The USMNT's midfield of Yunus Musah, Gianluca Busio and Aidan Morris looked fantastic against Panama but flopped against Mexico. What changed? The playing style of the opposition.

Musah, Busio and Morris were comfortable going man-to-man with Panama, whose forward movements depended upon quick passes in the center of the park. But they were utterly outplayed by Mexico, who largely avoided the midfield altogether by hitting perfect long balls down the flanks.

Mexico's ability to break in behind the USMNT midfield decided the game in its favor.

For the USMNT to succeed against similarly direct outfits — such as Jamaica, the team it will face twice in Nations League play in November — it must get comfortable tracking back and disrupting those longer passes.

A striker with the guts to seize the game

Contrary to popular belief, the USMNT doesn't have a striker shortage — Folarin Balogun, Tim Weah, Josh Sargent, Haji Wright, Brandon Vazquez, Ricardo Pepi, Jesus Ferreira and others are available for selection. The trouble is that none of those players have taken over the striker role.

With Balogun and Weah out injured for this international window, Pochettino started Norwich City striker Sargent at the top of the USMNT lineup. Unfortunately for the Americans, Sargent was largely invisible throughout both of the USMNT's games. He's a perfectly serviceable player, but he's not a teeth-gritting front-line leader who will swing games in the USMNT's favor. At this stage in the team's rebuild, that's the mindset required.

With Balogun and Weah doubtful for the USMNT's November games against Jamaica, Pochettino must go to his bench to replace Sargent. PSV's Pepi — who scored for the USMNT after coming on for Sargent against Panama — looks to be his best option.