ORLANDO, Fla. (ABC4) — After subbing into the match against Venezuela on Saturday night to help the U.S. Men’s National Team secure a 3-1 victory, Real Salt Lake stars Emeka Eneli and Diego Luna earned starts on Wednesday night in a commanding 3-0 victory over Costa Rica.
Both players contributed assists, but it was Luna who stole the spotlight, breaking things open early.
In a pre-match interview, Luna revealed the instructions from his head coach, Mauricio Pochettino. “Be free, express myself, and be a playmaker for the team,” he said. “Let things happen, make things happen.” Luna took these words to heart.
Just over 15 minutes into the match, Luna’s relentless pressing led him to take an errant elbow to the face, which left him bleeding and temporarily sidelined. Despite the blood gushing from his nose and concerns from Coach Pochettino about substituting him, Luna insisted on returning to the field.
“He showed great character,” Pochettino remarked. “He wanted to stay — he wanted to play. Great character, great quality. He is a player that, for sure, we are going to have in consideration for the future.”
With his nose reset and packed with cotton, Luna re-entered the game in the 20th minute and immediately made an impact. Collecting the ball near the halfway line, he drove straight at the Costa Rican defense. As three players closed in, Luna delivered a precise, defense-splitting pass to Brian White, who calmly slotted the ball into the far post for the opening goal.
It was a lead the United States would not relinquish.
Luna had to be substituted at halftime due to his injury and was unavailable for post-match interviews, as he was taken to a local hospital for further evaluation. However, he later shared a message of gratitude on his Instagram page, expressing his appreciation for the support he received.
Meanwhile, Emeka Eneli played the full 90 minutes and earned widespread praise, with many fans naming him their Man of the Match. Eneli’s tireless work rate saw him constantly recovering possession and providing outlets for teammates under pressure. His passing was exemplary, completing 69 of 75 attempts, but one moment stood out above the rest.
In the 77th minute, with the US clinging to a 1-0 lead, Eneli applied intense pressure on a Costa Rican defender near the edge of the box, winning the ball cleanly. He then drove to the touchline and delivered a perfectly weighted cross across the grain to an onrushing Caden Clark. Clark struck the ball first-time into the top corner, doubling the U.S. lead and providing much-needed breathing room.
Patrick Agyemang came off the bench to add a third goal in the 90th minute, sealing the victory in emphatic fashion. After the match, Pochettino offered praise for his players but tempered it with a challenge.
“Now we really know them and what we can expect from them,” Pochettino said. “But now it is up to them. From tomorrow, when they arrive at their club, they need to be the best. They need to be focused and concentrate because we are going to pay attention.”
Real Salt Lake’s preseason preparations continue, with their next competitive match scheduled for Feb. 19 in the CONCACAF Champions Cup. They will face Costa Rican side Herediano on the road, looking to build on the momentum from their players’ standout performances on the international stage.
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