Pulisic and Balogun both score in 6-0 US rout of Haiti as Pochettino nears exit

Christian Pulisic and Folarin Balogun both scored in their return to the U.S. roster, and the Americans routed Haiti 6-0 on Saturday in Miami in the first leg of the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinals. The six goals marked the team's most in a match under Mauricio Pochettino.

Pulisic opened his night by converting an easy penalty for a 3-0 lead in the 62nd minute, then finished from outside the box less than two minutes later off an assist from Alex Freeman. Balogun beat goalkeeper Alexandre Pierre in the 82nd to make it 6-0 and pointed at his wrist in celebration. Auston Trusty, Julian Hall and Weston McKennie also scored.

A farewell that begins with a rout

This was the near-perfect start to what will be a brief farewell tour. Pochettino has agreed to become the head coach at Manchester United, and the U.S. Soccer Federation said he will depart for Old Trafford next week, just three months after announcing a contract to lead the Americans through the 2030 World Cup.

The night had an odd home-and-away feel. With violence in Haiti preventing Les Grenadiers from playing on home soil, Haiti hosted the Americans in South Florida, which is home to the largest Haitian diaspora community in the United States. A mostly pro-Haiti crowd roared when Lenny Joseph finished Josue Casimir's cross in the 70th minute, only for the goal to be waved off for offside.

Both U.S. stars were making up for lost time. Pulisic had missed exhibition wins over Peru, Chile, Mexico and Canada while working back from a microfracture of his right tibia and fibula sustained in the round-of-16 loss to Belgium at the World Cup. Balogun had been omitted from those friendlies after sitting out Monaco's first four Ligue 1 matches this season.

The second leg is Monday in Cincinnati, where the Americans will try to finish off the quarterfinal and give Pochettino one more win before his move to Manchester.