Pochettino praises 'special' McGlynn after USMNT beats Venezuela

Midfielder Jack McGlynn was hailed by Mauricio Pochettino as a player with "incredible potential" after scoring a screamer and creating another goal as an experimental United States team beat a second-string Venezuela 3-1 in a friendly on Saturday.

With the game falling outside of the official FIFA windows for international games neither Pochettino's USA team nor their South American opponents were able to call on their European-based starters for the game at Inter Miami's Chase Stadium.

But the youthful squads provided some food for thought for their coaches as well as plenty of entertainment for the 18,808 crowd.

The USA were awarded a penalty in just the second minute when Patrick Agyemang was brought down by Daniel Pereira but Matko Miljevic's weakly struck spot-kick was easily saved by Wuilker Farinez.

The USA looked the brightest with Miljevic and the 21-year-old McGlynn both influential in midfield and it was the latter who opened the scoring in the 37th minute in spectacular fashion.

The Philadelphia Union playmaker collected the ball 25 yards out from goal and unleashed a superb left-foot drive that flew into the corner.

Two minutes later, Miljevic pushed forward and released Agyemang who cut in from the left and expertly curled into the far corner to double the advantage.

Miljevic, born in Miami but raised in Argentina, made it 3-0, bursting forward as he led a counter-attack before receiving a return pass from the excellent McGlynn and drilling home.

Venezuela pulled a goal back in the 68th minute with a header from substitute Jorge Yriarte from an Edson Tortolero corner.

McGlynn was part of the USA Olympic team at the Paris Games last year and has been a regular part of age-group teams but he now looks well-placed to make a push to be part of the squad in the build-up to the World Cup which will be co-hosted by the USA, Mexico and Canada.

'A special player'

Pochettino believes the midfielder, who caught the eye with his crisp passing and ability to switch the direction of attack, has real quality even if he needs to improve without the ball.

"Technically, he is a special player. We've seen how he strikes the ball, the way he controls it and the quality and vision that he has," he said.

"I have to help him to keep improving in the areas that he is good at but also in that commitment when we don't have the ball because that comes from the will of the player," he said.

"But I think he is open to improvement, that is why I think he's a player with incredible potential," added the Argentine.

McGlynn's performance is likely to add to his chances of leaving Philadelphia for a step forward in his career and he told AFP that there has been interest from European clubs.

"Yeah there is interest, I'm not sure what's going to happen, it's not in my hands but wherever I'll be, I'll  be 100% focused," he said.

"I definitely back myself to play anywhere and a goal of mine is definitely to play in Europe," he added.

Pochettino was pleased with the performance from a group that has been together for a week training with him in South Florida and which included eight players winning their first caps.

"I'm so happy, I want to congratulate all the players," said the former Tottenham Hotspur manager.

"From day one, I think the attitude was fantastic, we tried to develop some ideas on the pitch and I think today, not only did we see some good players and good performance but we also respected some rules and concepts," he said.

The USA will face Costa Rica in a friendly in Orlando on Wednesday.