Zendejas' starring role has come at the right time for himself and the USMNT

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- As Alejandro Zendejas stood successful the postmatch mixed zone, 1 could hardly archer however salient a relation helium had played successful the United States men's nationalist team's 2-0 triumph implicit Japan.

He was astir serene arsenic helium described the night, sharing the tract erstwhile again with Christian Pulisic -- whom helium archetypal crossed paths with arsenic a 14-year-old astatine the aged U.S. under-17 residency campy -- and delivering the captious archetypal goal. He besides knew he'd made the benignant of content connected U.S. manager Mauricio Pochettino that tin catapult him into information for the U.S. World Cup roster. Not that helium was letting it get to his head.

"This is each God's timing," helium said. "I'm precise thankful for everything that's been playing retired for me. I'm going to support connected doing my job, support connected moving and hopefully I tin get galore much opportunities for sure."

The U.S. midfielder had agelong appeared to beryllium connected the extracurricular looking successful erstwhile it came to a imaginable FIFA World Cup roster for the USMNT. It didn't look to substance however galore stellar performances Zendejas enactment successful for Liga MX powerhouse Club America. Even erstwhile helium had antecedently suited up for the U.S., helium delivered plentifulness of vigor and skill, similar successful the 2-0 affable decision to Mexico past year. Yet helium looked similar an afterthought erstwhile it came to the plans of Pochettino.

The U.S. manager explained that determination person been times erstwhile helium simply preferred different players, though Pochettino saw acceptable to telephone the attacker into this grooming camp. Zendejas' aged pal Pulisic saw his aged teammate tearing it up successful grooming this week, and sensed large things up for his aged friend.

"I've ever known what a large subordinate helium is," Pulisic said astir Zendejas. "I deliberation helium truly showed this campy thing antithetic truthful I'm truly blessed for him. He deserves it.

"[Zendejas] is simply a truly method player, truly cleanable connected the shot and helium gives a small thing antithetic ... He has a nonstop style, helium is truly speedy and helium tin find last passes, truthful I deliberation helium does a batch of things well."

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"Clean" is an apt statement of Zendejas' 30th-minute extremity -- the benignant of tally that sticks agelong successful the representation of fans, teammates, and yes, adjacent managers. Max Arfsten delivered a transverse from the near wing, and Zendejas met the transportation with a sumptuous first-time onslaught that settled conscionable wrong the acold post. One could astir spot Zendejas' banal zoom up the U.S. extent chart. Pochettino surely took notice.

"I deliberation we are truthful pleased," said Pochettino astir Zendejas' display. "With this benignant of performance, he's successful the contention for the roster of the World Cup."

When told of Pochettino's assessment, Zendejas beamed.

"Yeah man, a arrogant infinitesimal for sure," helium said. "I've got to bash my portion and past hopefully everything other falls into place."

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